$7.49

tumblr.

2008-10-23T19:28:00.001-04:00

this is where you can find me now:

moving my site.

2007-12-21T21:14:00.000-05:00

here.

grant barnhart

2007-11-21T20:22:00.001-05:00

awesome...

2007-11-21T20:13:00.000-05:00

black dice.

2007-10-30T22:09:00.000-04:00

awesome. these guys always make me feel like all the things I shouldn't do that I do too much of is nothing compared to what we can only imagine they do... or do I not do nearly enough of the things I should do that I thought I shouldn't do? awesome.

catching my eye.

2007-10-25T20:18:00.000-04:00

our new house.

2007-10-25T19:32:00.000-04:00

We're moving to Milwaukee - this is our new home! - 3/4 mile to Lake Michigan, walk Auden to school, walk to work, backyard, basketball hoop!, and great neighborhood - we're stoked...

hmmm... parenting.

2007-10-25T19:21:00.000-04:00

Auden will be 6 in about 17 months [give or take].... I'm not feeling like a bad parent because [more than likely] he won't be able to do this:

It should be noted, that although he cannot solve a rubix cube [neither can I], he can do a mean Souljah Boy...

yeasayer.

2007-10-25T19:15:00.000-04:00

where the fuck did this band come from... they're blowing up to say the least, and for good reason:

this is wild...

2007-10-02T19:09:00.001-04:00

check this out... seriously... panic attack anyone?

http://www.chippynews.com/worldclock.htm

mood?

2007-09-25T10:02:00.000-04:00

A human being who--as we say--is in good humour brings a lively atmosphere with them. Do they, in so doing, bring about an emotional experience which is then transmitted to others, in the manner in which infectious germs wander back and forth from one organism to another? We do indeed say that mood is infectious. Or another human being is with us, someone who through their manner of being makes everything depressing and puts a damper on everything: nobody steps out of their shell. What does this tell us? Moods are not side-effects, but are something which in advance determine our being with one another. It seems as though a mood is in each case already there, so to speak, like an atmosphere in which we first immerse ourselves in each case and which then attunes us through and through.

Heidegger, Fundamental Concepts of Metaphysics

-----------------

Are emotions indispensable for cognition? ... Kind of funny, because while I was reading this, I was thinking to myself that songs/music may have a greater immediate effect on my mood/thought/etc than people do. Prime example, listening to the first track off the the 2003 Phosphorescent album: [enjoy!]

man with a movie camera.

2007-09-25T00:32:00.000-04:00

this is a clip from the classic movie with a score by one of my favorite bands of all time, the cinematic orchestra - still one of the top 3 dvd's that I own:

best band alive right now:

2007-09-20T23:04:00.000-04:00

wooden shjips - new album = self titled = mind numbingly perfect...

nobody will watch this except for me, but...

2007-09-20T22:57:00.000-04:00

mv and ee in all of their incarnations - discussed, exposed, etc. - I absolutely love everything they've done...

psychic ills.

2007-09-20T22:48:00.000-04:00

I've been listening to a shit ton of Psychic Ills stuff again - I heard there may be a new album coming out soon - to me, they're a band that has never done anything wrong -

feist with kevin drew.

2007-09-20T22:41:00.001-04:00

one of the best BSS songs:

kevin drew.

2007-09-20T22:28:00.002-04:00

this album is absolutely dominating any playlist that I put together at the moment - Broken social scene has long been a favorite of mine... "spirit if..." - the first in a series? welcomed with open arms.

catching up...

2007-09-20T22:28:00.001-04:00

been so incredibly busy that I haven't had the opportunity to post anything - I'm on vacation now, so....

over half of our job applicants:

2007-09-12T23:05:00.001-04:00

SEPTEMBER 11--Meet Carlton Davis. The Minnesota man, 26, is facing felony charges for allegedly stealing a cell phone and purse from a woman he mugged on a St. Paul street early Saturday morning. According to police, after the woman turned over her belongings, Davis announced, "Now I'm going to suck your feet." Which he did, after the 24-year-old victim removed her shoes. Davis, who fled when passersby approached, was apprehended by cops a few blocks from the crime scene. He was booked into the Ramsey County lockup, where the below mug shot was snapped.

weirdo rippers.

2007-08-30T10:21:00.000-04:00

I've been diggin on these dudes for a little while now:

slap me in the face - am I still alive?

2007-08-29T22:39:00.000-04:00

feist.

2007-08-28T05:39:00.000-04:00

Feist joined by choir comprised of Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning of Broken Social Scene, Carl "A.C." Newman of the New Pornographers, Aaron Dessner, Bryan Devendorf, and Scott Devendorf of the National, Nicole Atkins, everybody in Grizzly Bear, and both Mates of State: [they were great!]

Niall McClelland

2007-08-26T02:42:00.001-04:00

a couple new things:

Bryan Schutmaat

2007-08-26T02:36:00.000-04:00

the group that just keeps getting better.

2007-08-23T23:28:00.000-04:00

new video from animal collective!!!
ahhhh, the juxtaposition of multiple feelings/images/sounds/emotions... makes you want to crap yourself... in a good way.

love is simple.

2007-08-15T23:57:00.000-04:00

the new akron/family album is coming out soon - was fortunate enough to find this track - wow! - can't wait to see them in September...

tuesday - bike club.

2007-08-14T22:54:00.000-04:00

My neighbor, Piers, invited me to join him on his Tuesday night bike club ride - the dude is cool, so I said absolutely - we both got off work and arrived home at about 5:40 - which didn't leave us much time at all - luckily, I had called in a KFC request - so I tossed Piers a drumstick and we were on our way...

I had no idea what I was in for - first of all, Piers and I were the only ones without head to toe 'gear' - I wore some shitty old shorts and a tee shirt, borrowed Piers's helmet [the only thing I was missing was a water bottle full of white wine in my eyes]...

Here's the 'cue sheet' [directions for the ride]:
---------------------------
PLEASANT HILL & GREAT FALLS
---------------------------
0 Mitchell Park (S St. btwn 22 & 23)
0 R 23rd St.
.3 L Kalorama Rd.
.4 R Kalorama Circle
.5 S Belmont Rd.
.7 R Massachusetts Ave. (on near sidewalk)
.9 R Rock Creek Drive
1.0 Becomes Normanstone Dr. @ hairpin
1.1 BR then BL TRO Normanstone
1.6 L Fulton St.
1.8 L 34 St.
1.9 R Mass. Ave. (to left lane in group, if alone go to far sidewalk)
1.9 L Observatory Circle
2.2 R Calvert St.
2.3 X Wisconsin Ave. @ light
2.4 R Tunlaw St. (becomes New Mexico)
3.0 L Garfield St.
3.3 R 45th St.
3.8 L Newark St.
3.8 X Nebraska Ave. S Rockwood Pkwy
4.6 R Fordham Rd. @ SS
5.2 L 49th St. @ SS
5.3 X Massachusetts Ave.
5.7 L Chesapeake
5.7 X Western Ave. S. Allan Rd.
6.2 L Baltimore Ave. @ SS
6.2 R Wriley Rd.
6.4 L Brookview Dr. (unmarked)
6.5 R Mass. Ave. @ SS (to left lane in group, if alone consider sidewalk)
6.7 L Ft. Sumner Dr. @ light
6.8 R Mamakagan Rd.
7.5 R Wapakoneta
7.7 L Walhonding Rd.
7.9 R Wicasset Rd
8.3 R Mohican Rd. (after Mohican Pl.)
8.4 L Bent Branch Rd.
8.9 L Tulip Hill Terr. @ 2nd sign for it
9.4 R Goldsboro Rd.
9.4 L Rannoch Rd.
9.5 R Kenhowe Dr.
9.9 L Bannockburn Dr.
10.5 R MacArthur Blvd.
11.5 R Seven Locks Rd.
(R on Thomlinson, R on Seven Locks)
12.5 L Lilly Stone Dr.
12.8 L Hamilton Spring Rd.
13.2 L Lilly Stone Dr.
13.6 R Persimmon Tree La.
14.0 R Persimmon Tree Rd.
(L Persimmon, R Eggert Dr., L MacArthur Blvd.to shorten ride)
15.0 L Oaklyn Dr.
17.6 R Falls Rd.
(L Falls Rd, L MacArthur to shorten ride)
17.8 L Stanmore Dr.
18.7 L Pleasant Hill Dr.
19.3 R Belmart Rd.
19.8 L Brickyard Rd.
20.1 R Falls Rd.
20.6 R MacArthur Blvd. @ T- toward Great Falls Park
(L MacArthur to shorten ride)
21.8 Turnaround in circle past booth at Park entrance
23.1 BR TRO MacArthur @ gate
30.2 BL Reservoir Rd
30.7 X Foxhall Rd @ TL
33.1 L/R 35thPlace/R St
33.6 X Wisconsin Ave
35.0 L Q Street
35.4 L to circle, N Massachusetts
35.8 R/R 24th Street/S Street
Mitchell Park !!
----------------------------------------------

yes, that's 35.8 miles!!!!

On top of everything else - my chain fell off twice - my tires were not inflated enough - and I really didn't have a water bottle...

I bailed after 12 miles and made my way back home [another 10 miles by the way!]...

I'm going to be kicking myself tomorrow for everything I've done in the last 4 years besides exercise...

auden and arlo.

2007-08-12T16:15:00.000-04:00

new podcast.

2007-08-11T10:27:00.000-04:00

july wine - august high life

wine and peanuts.

2007-08-06T22:04:00.001-04:00

bottle of water/glass of wine.

2007-08-06T00:31:00.001-04:00

deerhunter.

2007-08-06T00:09:00.000-04:00

I really love this band - Bradford's been posting free songs on their blog over the last week - he recorded a 4 song ep in one afternoon: here it is. Enjoy.

cody hudson; akroe; noah butkus

2007-07-31T23:50:00.000-04:00

some stuff that caught my eye tonight - I'm digging the shit out of the Noah Butkus stuff right now - I should just admit that I think I may have a fascination with skulls...

this skull is one of the coolest things I've ever seen:

voices... female voices... as of late:

2007-07-31T22:49:00.000-04:00

marissa nadler - "diamond heart"

jana hunter - "restless"

A note about Sibylle Baier:

It would seem that an intangible, profoundly haunting and dreamlike force accompanies a handful of folk musicians of the early 1970s era. In an eerily similar fashion to her two folk lady contemporaries Vashti Bunyan and Linda Perhacs, German folk singer Sibylle Baier recorded a handful of songs in the early '70s without ever releasing them publicly, only to vanish without a trace for over three decades, devoting her life to raising a family. The story goes as follows:

In a particularly dark and moody period of her young life, Claudine, a friend of Sibylle's, dragged her out from under the bed and took her on a road trip to Strasbourg, ending up across the Alps in Genoa.

Upon the return from this trip Sibylle felt her spirits renewed and she set out to write the song "Remember the Day", grateful for being alive. It was the first song she ever wrote. Recorded in the late 70's in her home on a reel to reel recording device, the songs on what is now known as Colour Green are intimate portraits of life's sad and fragile beauty.

Years later her son transferred her music from an old tape reel to CDs as presents for their family during an anniversary of her birthday. The son happened to be friends with J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. fame, who happened to hear the CD and pass it along promptly to Orange Twin records. The album Colour Green has been released on February 7th 2006, some 30 years after its humble beginnings.

sibylle baier - "tonight"

great show - turn off the television - !!!!

2007-07-29T16:42:00.001-04:00

glide house? I'll take 2 please...

2007-07-29T02:45:00.000-04:00

Had the opportunity to check out the 'Green Living' exhibit at the Building Museum in DC with the little guys - it was great - they had a GlideHouse erected in the museum that you could walk through and tinker with - I've read so much about prefab modern housing that to actually walk through a model etc was incredibly encouraging - everyone should own one of these - I'll go in on a plot of land with someone tomorrow...

too many videos, vanlaeken.

2007-07-28T02:38:00.000-04:00

I've been on a 3 day kick - it'll cease soon. Beware...

this is what work feels like most of the time.

2007-07-28T02:05:00.001-04:00

last weekend I went grocery shopping with dan deacon.

2007-07-28T02:00:00.001-04:00

definitely one of the best albums of the year so far: [I love the grand finale at the end] - brilliant!

daniel johnston.

2007-07-25T23:15:00.000-04:00

finally got around to seeing this flick: [it's an amazing movie that you should see immediately}

I've been spending entirely too much time with this man...

2007-07-24T23:52:00.001-04:00

A week later she is still with me. She is departing by degrees.

If I tore her hair out, no one but me would love her. But she doesn't want me to tear her hair out.

I wear different shirts for her: red, orange, silver. We hold hands through the night.

Donald Barthelme
from "The Captured Woman"
1981

dan snaith [and all his monikers]

2007-07-24T18:02:00.000-04:00

I've always loved anything that Dan Snaith has done - whether it was under Manitoba or Caribou - he's always blown me away. I saw him once, in Minneapolis [by myself!] and it was the loudest show I've ever been to [and I've seen some "loud" bands in my day, believe me]. I stumbled upon a video from his new album - which once again is absolutely mind numbing:

From Snaith"
I've just posted the video for Melody Day directed by Daniel Eskils and produced by Johan Junker on our front page. It was filmed in Gotland, Sweden just outside Ingmar Bergman's backyard and near where Tarkovsky filmed 'The Sacrifice'. Hope you like it.

Here it is:

Another video from his last album [seriously - amazing]:

Another old one [I know, I know}:

For real!:

stuffed animals?:

Last one [honestly}:\

it's time for the percolator.

2007-07-24T11:38:00.000-04:00

these songs have made it on multiple mix cds this summer from me. five good jams to spread on a poconut sandwich:

Niall McClelland.

2007-07-24T10:44:00.001-04:00

big round onions on a t-bone steak.

2007-07-24T10:34:00.001-04:00

pretty sure this is who I'm downloading music from nowadays.

2007-07-22T21:11:00.001-04:00

apartment therapy.

2007-07-22T09:51:00.000-04:00

we've been featured a couple times on this website - werd? word.

secondary lapse of reason.

2007-07-22T09:36:00.000-04:00

I know I posted this on myspace, but I think I'm into the idea of posting more things on the blog again... peep game, rabbits [new album = September!]

best show ever?

2007-07-22T09:31:00.000-04:00

quite possibly the best show [1 - 2 punch] that I've ever been to. Deerhunter started a fire and then Battles threw explosives on top - Baltimore - cheese dip - buffalo sauce - monster voices:
[obviously the show hasn't been posted since it's only been 8 hours since I left, but here's the full Chicago show]

37 swimmers and james frey.

2006-01-15T23:18:00.000-05:00

The other morning I was at the airport on my way to Charlotte, NC. I had an early flight: 5:40 am. I arrived at the airport at ten after, which according to AirTran is too late to check in, in which case they issue you a gate pass. [quick sidenote: AirTran is a piece of shit airline... don't ever fly with them if you can help it]. I was, of course, selected for additional security screening, which didn't take long at all, but everyone that was working was definitely at least a cup and a half of coffee ahead of me.

I made it to the gate with my 'gate pass' and spoke to the woman who, I thought, was going to get me on my ridiculously early flight. She asked me for a 'paper ticket'... I wasn't aware that these were still in existence. I think they disappeared around the same time that the Chilito was replaced with a Chili Cheese Burrito on Taco Bell's menu, which would take us way back to '99 or so. After telling her that I didn't have a paper ticket, she told me that I wasn't going to be making my flight becaus the 'lost ticket' form that I needed to fill out was going to take too long. I asked her if she could give it to me so I could fill it out on the plane and turn it into a gate attendent on the other end. This definitely was not an option.

Then it gets weird. After digging around in the drawers behind the counter for a few minutes she tells me that they "don't seem to have any of the forms down here" and "you'll have to go back to the check-in counter and speak to whoever you spoke to". I was pretty pissed at this point. 1. I had missed my flight after waking up at 4am... 2. instead of calling to have one of the forms brought down to me, or checking another gate station drawer, she sent me back to get my own... I stared at her in disbelief, while imagining her gasping for breath as I strangled her as fast as I could before anyone noticed what was happening.

So I walk out of the terminal area, past security and back up to the check in counter... here's where the 37 swimmers [almost] enter my story. As I'm approaching the counter a group of 37 college age swimmers, in a near perfect line, are nearing the same counter. Of course I made it to the counter before them; even if mere seconds seperated us. For the rest of my trip, I told everyone who asked "how have your travels been thus far?", "they've been great, but I do have a story that involves 37 swimmers", with absolutely no intention of ever telling them the story. So were they a part of my story or not?.. I think they were and I had every intention of making sure they manifested themselves into being an even larger part of my story, but I didn't. Later that night, I watched CNN and caught the tail end of the developing James Frey story... would Oprah back him?... [Yes she would, and she'd let the world know by calling into the Larry King show]... I'm not trying to save anyone... I was never addicted to any drugs [with the exception of my developing dependency on Starbucks coffee]... but in lieu of the events that took place that day, I'm just happy that I didn't turn out to be another James Frey... the melee with the 37 swimmers, 2 dead cops, and a quarter full PBR can... that was my Tuesday morning.

captain caveman.

2006-01-15T22:57:00.000-05:00

First of all I can't believe that Netflix has "The Power of Salad..." dvd from Lightning Bolt. If anyone out there is still questioning the eternal benefits of joining Netflix, please let this be the final nail in the coffin of doubt. I read a great article on Lightning Bolt in the new issue of Wire magazine. They grace the cover, and to be completely honest, I've grown a bit sick of all the hype surrounding noise bands lately... High on Fire, Earth, Smoke, Wolf Eyes, etc... I enjoyed LB's music before this article, but after reading about how they started, where they came from, and their general approach to life, I have to say that I'm a huge fan... so needless to say, I'm listening to Hypermagic Mountain right now. Here's a link to the interview that spawned the article... http://www.thewire.co.uk/web/unpublished/lightning_bolt.html... and throw down 10 bucks for the new issue... it's a good one and should come with a Wire Tapper [number 14]... which includes: http://www.discogs.com/release/566853

my list... finally.

2006-01-02T22:45:00.000-05:00

The more I think about this damn list, the more it confuses me... I think it might have something to do with the fact that Radiohead didn’t come out with an album this year... the last couple years have been kind of shitty as far as solid cohesive fucking awesome records are concerned... I’m not joking... the Arcade Fire record was great, don’t get me wrong, but there’s still 2 songs on there that I have to skip over every single time they come on, and they’re not “Fitter Happier”... but this was a better year for music, for sure... thanks to all my friends who turned me on to new stuff that I wouldn’t have heard about otherwise [still the best way to learn about new music]... I think that when we’re all retired we should start up our own version of Pitchfork... fo rilla... werd? ... word.

best albums of the year:

konono no. 1 - congotronics [whoa... didn't see this coming]
animal collective - feels [listen to Purple Bottle and Banshee Beat and tell me this isn't the best album of the year]
gang gang dance - god's money
jackie o motherfucker - flags of the sacred harp
jan jelinek - kosmischer pitch
shugo takumaru - LST [not as good as Night Time, but...]
the books - lost and safe

alva noto/ryuichi sakamoto - insen [ridiculous]
matthew herbert - plat du jour [process vs product?.... maybe a little bit]
jamie lidell - multiply
boards of canada - campfire headphase [we're spoiled]
caribou - milk of human kindness [once you see this live... you'll understand completely]
isolee - we are monster
roisin murphy - ruby blue
broadcast - tender buttons [seriously love this record at work]
dominik eulberg - kreucht & fleucht [to make up for Richie Hawtin's demise]

young jeezy - thug motivation
kanye west - late registration
common - be [welcome back]
clipse - we got it cheap [could've been condensed to one disc, but...]
spank rock - anything he released [hot shit...]

wolf parade - apologies to the queen mary [best song of the year "I'll do anything"]
clap your hands say yeah - clap your hands say yeah
akron/family - akron/family
wilderness - wilderness [it really is that good...]
bloc party - silent alarm [who cares about the hype]
the national - alligator [take away 3 songs and it's sooooooo much better]
dead meadow - feathers [ahhhhhhhh... I love this shit]
thanksgiving - the ghost and the eyes [this dude's like 11 years old or something]
wooden wand - harem of the sundrum & the wit [perfect album in my book]
jose gonzalez - veneer [you could give your parents this album and they'd dig]

have I reached that point?... yes you have, you sonuvabitch.

2006-01-02T22:33:00.000-05:00

{the following is unedited as of 1.2.06} ... just in case...

We wanted to bring everyone up to speed on what’s been happening in our lives this past year, so we thought this a better year than any to start a new tradition... the “Van Laeken Annual What the Heck’s Been Happening in Our Lives Lately That We Feel You Should All Know About” letter. The first installment:

We had the opportunity this year to live in Minneapolis; probably the best city that we’ve ever resided in, and one of the coolest cities in the country. Fortunately we had great timing climate wise and dealt with one of the mildest winters in many years. The parks and the people are probably the two things that we’ll remember most. The people really were amazing. I met some of the most honest, interesting, hard working people that I’ve ever met. Brittney still receives at least three calls a week from people who she encountered, and looks forward to picking up the phone each time. Auden loved it as well. Whether it was the Walker Art Museum and its sculpture garden, or Lake Calhoun, he seemed to always have a smile on his face eagerly saying “Yeahhhhhh” to whatever we pitched at him.

Brittney worked as Program Coordinator for New Challenges. Essentially she managed a house of staff members who oversaw the day to day lives of three developmentally disabled women. She, of course, loved her job and it reflected not only in the feedback from her supervisors, but also the clients themselves. They still write her letters and send her pictures. You can tell that she is missed, but that the time she spent with them changed them forever.

I was still working for Urban Outfitters. I had the opportunity to open my own store this year; something I had only helped out with in years past. It was an experience that I’ll never forget, and it gave me all the necessary experience to take on my first district management position... which is the reason we find ourselves in Florida. I’m currently managing the creative side of the Southeast district [which includes stores in Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta, Charlotte, Charleston, 3 stores in Miami - and soon a new store in West Palm Beach]. I’m definitely traveling quite a bit more than we’re used to, but it’s usually contained to Tuesday through Thursday at the most. Brittney’s been patient and supportive of the entire process and that speaks volumes for our relationship.

So now we find ourselves with the option to go to the pool to swim on New Year’s day... a far cry from freezing temperatures in Minneapolis. It has been a bit surreal to say the least. Wearing sandals every day, and Auden’s new love of sand and the ocean has been welcomed with open arms. We did experience our first 2 hurricanes this year [one of which saw us without power or running water for 8 days], but the winter nights [usually in the mid 60’s] have more than made up for Wilma.

Auden and I have a daily routine which involves him riding his bike [and me walking behind him] down the path of our apartment complex to the clubhouse to get free juice and popcorn. He still refuses to use his pedals, but it’s only a matter of time before he understands the potential for speed that he’s not yet realized. He’s really into Bob the Builder, Extreme Home Makeover Edition, This Old House, and breaking stuff. This year his list of obsessions included: garages, every single light anywhere we went being turned on, broken things, and the color orange being ‘ugly’. He’s absolutely in love with Dan Zanes’ music... any time we’re in the car and Dan Zanes isn’t on, he demands it immediately. Which is usually followed by, “Yeah... Dan Zanes!” and hand claps. The most ridiculously cute word he says is “Dangerous”. He’s learning how to use the potty with the help of Starburst candy, and loves to watch movies in the evenings... most notably “Garfield.” He definitely has a mind of his own and doesn’t let anyone think otherwise.

Lots of changes, which is nothing new for our family if you’ve been following us for the last 4 years. We wouldn’t have it any other way... we’re meeting new people, experiencing new cultures and climates, and falling more in love with each other every day. I don’t think that there’s anything more that anyone could ask for. We wish everyone a happy new year, may it bring you everything that you hope it will and more...

yellow tape and disbelief.

2005-11-19T21:15:00.000-05:00

Last night I was in bed when I heard a series of loud noises that I thought may have been our hurricane shutters falling down. Then I speculated that it was definitely just fireworks, and cursed my neighbors for being loud at 1 in the morning. Then I thought to myself, "I hope that didn't wake Auden up, because I'm really friggen tired." After 5 minutes of silence I was relieved to know that he slept through it. My relief was short lived, though. I heard a helicopter outside my window... it was obviously making rounds in vicinity.

I went to the sliding deck doors and looked out our vertical blinds. There were a few police cars, small crowds of people, and a fire truck pulling in. The entire parking lot outside our apartment was taped off with yellow caution tape. There was one officer who was laying little orange bowls on the ground [obviously marking where bullets were found]. We checked the news, internet, etc, but couldn't find any information.

This morning I went to my car which was parked around the corner. As I got closer, I noticed two pieces of white tape on my rear bumper... one running horizontally and one running vertically [both meeting on the left and top respectively]. I popped a squat and looked closely at a bullet hole in my rear bumper... I couldn't believe it. A fucking hole in my bumper. I'm yet to find out if my insurance will cover it... I'm assuming that it won't, but seriously... a hole in my bumper.

This is the third gun incident that I've been 'too closely' associated with in my life. My first was in college. I was an RA and there had been an altercation in the alley between two residence halls. A gun was pulled, no shots fired, but the gun was tossed onto the roof of one of the residence halls. This meant that for the better part of 3 hours 5 of us searched the roof of the residence hall in the dark with flash lights to try and find the missing weapon... we never found it.

My second was while I was living in Cincinnati. We woke up on Saturday morning to find the entire block in front of our apartment complex blocked off with police caution tape and two detectives standing at both ends of our hallway. We found out later that day that a man [drug dealer] had been shot in his Suburban that was parked on the street. He had been bound and gagged [along with 5 of his cohorts] in the 'meat packing' district. He was submerged in water until he gave the culprits the address of the apartment two doors down and across the hall from us. They then threw him in the back seat of his Suburban and drove him to our apartment complex where they proceeded to break into the apartment two doors down and across the hall from us, tie up the girl who lived there, ransacked her place, then ran down the stairs out the front door to the parked Suburban and shot the victim two times in the head and escaped on foot... really fucked up.

We've never lived in a bad part of town... our apartments and neighbors have always been decent... am I crazy for thinking that we've had too many encounters with guns in the past three years?... in my lifetime?

Middlesex.

2005-09-15T01:46:00.000-04:00

definitely one of the best/coolest books that I've ever read... and I'm not even finished yet...

Miami.

2005-09-12T22:54:00.000-04:00

We're finally in Miami... and what a trip it ended up being. Looking out the window right now I see nothing but darkness... it's late, but if it were 5 hours earlier I would see palm trees and weird plants... there was a lizard climbing up a wall when I got back from the grocery store tonight and we have 'valet trash service'... insane, I know, but awesome for sure... I leave for Tampa in the morning and then it's off to Orlando on Wednesday... then I come home for night before I head to Atlanta on Thursday to work with my new boss for the first time... no, she's from New York, but we're meeting in Atlanta because, well, why not Atlanta I guess... valet trash service is pretty sweet if you think about... use stuff, throw waste away in can, can fills up, take bag out and drop it in the box right outside your door before 8pm and the next morning it's gone forever... even better than a garbage chute...

took a dip in the pool on Sunday morning and read my book a bit before the sun told me to go inside immediately... 1 hour is all I lasted... I'm working on my tan...

I'll keep you posted... I love Publix... and rich people... and faux rich people too...

2005-09-01T21:42:00.000-04:00

ridiculous.

a link.

2005-09-01T21:35:00.000-04:00

my first attempt at a link on this damn thing:

http://www.quickanddirtyinternational.com/pages/idiot.html

Evansville, IN.

2005-09-01T21:15:00.000-04:00

We're in the process of slowly making our way to Miami from Minneapolis. We spent a week in Warsaw and now we find ourselves in Evansville. Driving through pretty much the entire mid-sectional vein of Indiana was one of the most mind numbing experiences I've had in a long time. Lack of traffic [a good thing - for sure, but], strip malls, abandoned gas stations, multiple fast food establishments under one roof [Taco Bell/KFC?], corn, Boot City, trucks, and morbid obesity were a few of the sights that served as a reminder that I've done the right thing up to this point.

Black Russians anyone? Yes, please. Thank you. You're welcome. No drooling on the recliner. Werd.

attention all lowrances, aaron and fosters, joshua...

2005-07-26T22:32:00.000-04:00

I'm on this... now I can respond to all your posts about the Arcade Fire and crazy small penis pictures... life just got soooo much better....