someone explain this

Conan finished his run on "Late Night" last week. He takes over on "The Tonight Show" in May or something. If you know me, you know I have a long-standing and enduring love for Conan. I do. And I love that he's such a music fan and is willing to have lesser-known acts on his show (we'll see how quickly that changes in the 11:30 time slot). But he chose the supremely sucky White Stripes to perform on his last show. It's not as simple as this not appealing to me musically or stylistically (there's some music I don't like but certainly recognize why others might), it's downright HORRENDOUS. On all levels. The "singing", the writing, the playing, and they don't even ATTEMPT harmony and just sing sloppily in unison. Is this a joke? Is there something I'm missing?



That's some serious Emperor's New Clothes shit going on right there...

staring

I keep meaning to write and then 1.) not finding the time and 2.) not feeling like I can ever say what I want to in the way that I want to. And despite #1, I feel less than productive of late. One thing I'm doing is creating a website for my hairstylist. We're trading services, which works for me, because I can have her do things I wouldn't normally be able to afford. And she's really good at what she does. And you know how some people just work for you aesthetically, such that you want to just...look at them? I can point to a handful of people I personally know that I feel this way about. And she's one of them (The opposite also holds true - I know people I find difficult to look at). She is so absolutely stunning, it's like looking at a beautiful flower arrangement or a jellyfish or the deepest red. A vision that just feeds you. I remember Raymond saying how beautiful she was (she is one of a smallish group of hairstylists who can actually cut curly hair), before I started seeing her. Come to find out, yep, he's right. And for you, dear reader, I offer proof, since I'm sitting here on a Friday night scanning photos. Tell me I'm not right.

And because she looks like she does, she will be featured front and center on the site. Just like the site I did for the SF boyz, who are also both very attractive, one cannot ignore or deny that whatever the product, we're also selling the facilitator, and if the facilitator/s is attractive, that's worth featuring.

Anyways, she's hot. I think if I could look like anyone - anyone - I'd want to look like her.

New bandmate was here for 5 days, and it was pretty productive, though he is taking some getting used to. He is talented and enthusiastic, though, that's for sure. But I'm glad to have my place back. Esp since he asked me on day 2 or so if he could fart in front of me, and despite my saying no, he proceeded to do so, often. And I am totally grossed out by that. Natural bodily functions aside, ick. I don't let them rip in front of anyone, and I kinda expect the same. If that makes me "uptight", I'm ok with that. Let's have some fucking decorum.

He and I judged a collegiate a cappella event on Saturday, which reminded me...how much I really hate collegiate a cappella. Why the hell do I judge these things? I'm even going to Chicago the week after next to do one at Northwestern.

And on Sunday I drive to upstate NY to see A (and G) and pick her up, and then we're off to Ohio so she can pick up her new car. Yeah, we're driving to Ohio. But A, you know I'd take a bullet for you, so off we go. It'll be fun to have a road trip. Maybe not so fun to see Dad, which always leaves me feeling battered, so I'm going to try to keep it short.

prelude

Climbing, climbing, climbing,
climbing...

Look, at how futile this is,
I'm so weak, so fragile, so torn.
Going round and round, going inside
To the circle, to the ladder, to the sky.

I am climbing a ladder of urgency
Climbing a ladder of hope
Climbing a ladder of my emotions
Climbing a ladder of unraveling rope.

You see, what you want to see,
But I'm not, what you wanted, no I'm not.
I am only one thing, one thing I see,
One thing I feel.

Climbing...
I am only one thing, one thing I see, one
thing I feel
I am the ladder

-"The Ladder", Paula Cole

scores

Last night I got two towels, 4 plates, a silk shirt and a skirt for $40. All great stuff.

Then, my landlord just told me that he's buying out his sister's portion of this house and LOWERING my rent. Wow. I guess there's a chance she might buy him out, but it sounds like he's going to keep it. So either my rent is getting lowered, or I'll have a reason to move out of this area.

Bloody Saturday

Last night I had what I think was the most disturbing dream I've ever had. One of those dreams that makes you go "WHAT THE FUCK?", and wonder what's roiling in your psyche such that you'd come up with such a thing, and also wish that you didn't remember your dreams. I won't recount what happened because it's too awful, but I will say that at one point I ended up splattered with blood. No, I didn't do anything to anyone else, and never have in my dreams, so I know I don't have any subconscious desires to hurt anyone. No, I was in an unsuspecting audience. And when it happened, I jumped up screaming, but noone else seemed to notice or be bothered.

Cut to just now, when I went to have my roots done (eek - this is a whole new hair world for me!). She puts on the color (while she's doing it, after she's brushed out my hair, I bear an uncanny and unfortunate resemblance to Sideshow Bob) and I'm waiting while it does its thing. I hear someone who is being shampooed ask if the water can be hotter.

A little while later, my hairstylist comes over and tells me that their hot water has just stopped working, so I can either have them shampoo and rinse with cold water, or I can go home and rinse it myself. She tells me that another customer just said she "couldn't wait for it to be over". Ok, I'm going home.

I get home and get into the shower, and - you can probably guess where this is going - it's splattered red everywhere, my dream...come true? I rinse and rinse, and eventually it no longer looks like a murder scene in there. I guess if THAT dream were going to come true, this is the best possible way. Because the actual dream...[shudder].

Liftoff of Love, aleady!

Oh my goodness, I'm overwhelmed. I just joined the board of directors of [musical organization], and I already have dozens of emails and documents and tasks to process through. I am in charge of web content, which is what I was doing for them before, just not as a board member. That in addition to paying work, putting my band back together (and a trip to NYC last weekend for that very reason)...

So this will be quick. I've noticed in my stats that people are constantly searching for the lyrics to "Liftoff of Love", which I mentioned at one point. This is the music that goes behind a very old trick (probably from the 80s) that P&T do. The trick is great, and so is the music. The music is by Gary Stockdale, who does all the P&T music, and happens to also be friends with another (musician) friend of mine, completely unconnected to Penn. Funny. So Gary kindly sent me the lyrics and the music to the song. Here are the lyrics, for all of you who have been clamoring for them, for whatever reason (are there lots of people recreating this trick?? - watch the video and you'll see that'd be tough). Those that have been searching for ugly holiday sweaters...you're on your own.

Liftoff of Love (Gary Stockdale)

1.

First stage, you really blew my mind

Next stage, I reached but could not find.

Blast off, exploding love

Cast off, to the stars above

No relativity in my galaxy

(Blast off)

Liftoff for Love

Liftoff for Love

Liftoff for Love

Baby hold on to me

Escape velocity

Liftoff for Love

Liftoff for Love

Liftoff for Love

(Blast off)

2.

(Trap door)

First scam: you slipped away from me

Next scam: You’re not where you should be

(Trap door)

Trap door, popped in for a while

Back door, missed you by a mile

You look at me and laugh

I ought to saw you in half

(Trap door)

Ripoff of love

Ripoff of love

Ripoff of love

Ain’t no mystery, it’s just trickery

Ripoff of love

Ripoff of love

Ohhh, Ripoff of love

(Trap door!)