will haikus de-stress me tonight?

it's almost over

i tried to manage my time

still up all night long

snow falls in DC

not quite ready for the cold

need a new jacket

a normal weekend?

feels like nights at infill 2

without smelly trees

need a quiet place

but the library closes

way too early here

mexican food calls

a hunger i cannot fix

a whole coast away

this actually worked

maybe i like writing haikus?

back to this paper

call to action

get up, get active, and make a difference.

the first steps are the toughest. like getting out of bed in the morning.

but what is life without challenges?

without perseverance?

without seeing what you're capable of?

without finding your calling? it's certainly out there.

fuck being comfortable. im starting to enjoy the flux.

the stress can be a lot to deal with. but that's what beer is for.

if you're wondering whether or not to try...

...whether to put yourself outside your comfort zone...

...whether or not to see what's out there...

...whether or not to breathe fresh air...

...you already know the answer....

...yes.

this is a call to action.

mostly to remind myself that life won't slow down for me.

enjoy the ride. then blog about it.

year end list.

This is the first time I've been able to write something in a while. Better make it count, right?

I think I have a blog entry around this time every year. I think it's because I start to see these crazy year-end "best of the year" music articles in Rolling Stone, Spin, etc. and they're all so ridiculous. I start off by thinking how utterly futile it is to quantify something so subjective as music into a "top 25" list.

You basically get a single list that encompasses music throughout the year. Which in itself is ridiculous because, at least for me, context matters. I'll love something in the summertime simply because it sounds good in warm weather. Same for the fall, spring, and winter...

But fuck it, I'm jealous of the folks who get to push their music tastes out there. It really does feel nice to make your music preferences public. A little vanity never hurt anybody, right?

2010 - don't mind the countdown. it's more for dramatic effect than an actual ranking system.

12 Tame Impala - thanks Rosy

11 Beach House - the winter trip to bryce canyon wouldn't have been the same without them.

10 Wolf Parade - r.i.p.? thanks for one last go-round, fellas.

09 Sleigh Bells - loud. solid- especially live.

08 Janelle Monae - her music video is sick. and she can def sing.

07 Yeasayer - if only for 'i remember'. but the whole thing is oddly good.

06 Hot Chip - solid, once again

05 Broken Social Scene - underrated? i saw it as bss's return

04 Cold War Kids - just an EP, but it was my fix for 10 until january...

03 LCD Soundsystem - refined. anything that has folks dancing in the aisles at the bowl works for me

02 Black Keys - the best and most distinguishably different black keys album.

01 Arcade Fire - duh. you guys know me.

disclaimer - i'm going to think of 5 more albums that I should have included right after posting this.

In fact, I already forgot Cosmogramma. How could I forget the Thom Yorke contribution for 2010?

btw, I went to NYC for the first time on Thanksgiving.

Brooklyn...I get it now.

rambling

I logged onto to the blog website and saw that I'm really falling behind.

I told myself I'd try to do a blog, at least record some thoughts if only for myself, etc. In fact, it's probably in my last blog post about 2 months (?) ago. I've fallen behind. I see eyeball burp 's blog and it's got 159 posts, I see justin keeping up the wells blog, and it's got 44 posts. And I have every reason to be doing this, living in a new city, on a new coast, in a new time zone...better get on it, I suppose...It's funny, I left LA and came out here, but I now can't get enough of music from LA. It's like I almost took it for granted? Who knows. I hope not. I like the Cold War Kids a lot...and their new single "royal blue" sounds fantastic. I can only imagine how good it sounds live, since they always sound about 5x better live. I realize they rank up there with my faves. People out here have heard the Local Natives. Is that a trip or are they really that big? Nobody knows what Anticon is. So far. But they know Animal Collective. Naturally. I bought Avey Tare's cd yesterday...I should open it. It's cold sometimes. It's really not that bad yet, I sometimes expect it to be freezing and it's kinda warm (like today); other days it looks nice but it's biting cold out. We'll see how it goes after this Thanksgiving break.

dc still never fails to amaze me, for better or worse.

for example:

-the licence plates here all say, "taxation without representation" awesome.

-I saw a gnarle sticker on a car here. awesome.

-public transportation has rush hour too. not awesome

-and laker/bruin games start at 10 effing 30. not awesome.

...and there are so many things that just make me think that dc is the land of opposites. Like I walked through a mirror in LA and fell out here.

...first, there's the obvious ones you see at first:

-you can't buy everything you want to buy at the grocery store

-there's an nfl team

-i walk a lot

-the nba team sucks

-real seasons, trees change colors

Then theres the small things that kind of start to show after some time

...people watch hockey

...mexican beer is expensive here

...there are no jack in the boxes in the area

...everywhere sells crab cakes or lobster rolls

...the water isn't 'arrowhead' it's 'deer park'

...there's no such thing as "crv" so it makes no sense for me to leave a glass bottle beside a trashcan

it's a trip. I say that a lot, but it's a trip.

Seeing yellow leaves fall from trees along a brick sidewalk among the brick houses. I'd never see that back home. Thunderstorms. It actually gets colder when it rains...with no marine layer to soften the sharp chill. Rain comes fast and quick, but it rarely sticks. Riding the bus is an experience. I think I'm getting used to it. This past weekend, I found suluDC. Saw taiko for the first time in a while. I think they were more Asian than taiko groups around home. I haven't driven a car in weeks. I miss it, but I'm so happy I don't have to drive around here.

I'm heading to NYC in 2 days. Wednesday til Monday. Seeing the bruins play at the Garden. I have absolutely no idea what to expect. I'm as excited for the bus ride there as I am for the whole trip. I haven't been out of DC in more than a month. What the heck exists between cities out here? I always imagine farmland, but that's a California thing. This will be interesting...

Finally, I'm glad I'm doing this Writing in this blog. For me. Someday I'll look back and laugh at myself. Which is always fun...

p.s. Stinky Pinky is a good ass band. What an EP.

Hawthorne, Home, and Beer...

...could it get any better than that?

Let me start by saying that I saw Mayer Hawthorne tonight. Dude rocked it.

We headed out to the Black Cat (awesome venue, by the way), only a 10 minute walk from my spot in Logan Circle. I realized how privileged I am to be living in a big city. Just 10 minutes away, I could see a great show, have some great beers on tap, and chill the fuck out, without having to worry about DD's and all. No driving out to the El Rey or the Fonda, worrying about how to get home without risking my life or criminal record...Anyway, the show was great. The dude has some serious stage presence and really knows how to get a crowd going. If nothing else, I absolutely recommend seeing him if you get a chance...although it still tripped me out to hear the guy yell, "hello DC!".

During the course of the night, I had three fantastic beers. I just thought I'd brag a bit.

Started with a Guinness. That's actually one thing I noticed about DC. Guinness on tap is more the norm than the exception. Everyone's got the stuff on tap. Is it because the East Coast is closer to Dublin? I'm curious to know if the stuff is available everywhere in the east. Regardless, I just love that. Guinness almost seems like a luxury in LA...here it quickly become the old dependable brew.

Anyway, I tried a Dogfish Head 60-minute IPA. That stuff does wonders. It felt like the first time I tried Stone IPA. It's just a fantastic IPA- strong, hoppy, and delicious. I recommend trying it if you ever see it. I finished the night with a Dogfish Head 90-minute. The stuff is 9%. Imagine the the 60-minute and add more alcohol and flavor. Good times. Despite paying $10 for four 12-oz bottles.

By the way, I realized what Yuengling is. Supposedly the Yuengling Brewery is the oldest brewery in the States, located in Pottsville, PA...i think I'm going to have to visit one of these days. It's everywhere out here; everyone carries the stuff. It's pretty generic... tastes like an American brew. I just can't believe how many bars out here carry it. Like Sierra Nevada back home, I guess.

The weather is getting cold. Rain hits almost every week. But the rainy days are mixed in with some seriously beautiful, cold days. When the sun shines on DC, it's a fantastic thing to see...the sun hits the old buildings and churches, and the city really comes alive. I just wish I had more time to just walk the streets...

I have, however, walked from Maryland back to DC through Rock Creek Park. I made it from Logan to Georgetown. I even walked through the National Zoo. This after spending my life driving from place to place...it's definitely a change.

The metro, the marble buildings...it's a different world out here...I truly miss California, another world away...but I'll be back...at least I know what's out here...I guess...

Home this past weekend was amazing. I saw people I haven't seen in a long time. Thanks everyone, for making my quick 3 days a great 3 days to remember.

Cheers all...

...it's only Thursday night...

enjoy your weekend!

washington dc

I've been here for a little more than a month now...

...and DC is a still a trip.

So many new experiences every day, things I'd never see anywhere back home. Circles and squares, diagonal State streets, The Capitol Mall, The Washington Monument towering over the city...my office only a few blocks from the White House. I don't quite know what to think of this place yet. I've always enjoyed it from afar- I've spent a few weeks here, seen it in movies, known people who've lived here. Still, though, actually immersing myself in it is a whole different story. Waking up to it each morning falling asleep each night...finding a new rhythm in a city 3000 miles from home. The humidity is a big change (90% humidity and rain today). And the food (zero Mexican, Japanese, and Hawaiian- lots of Mediterranean). So is public transportation (Walk to the left, stand to right...). But among the most interesting things about this city is that most of the folks in the city aren't from here. They're from Kentucky, Tennessee, New York, Hawaii, Wisconsin, Oregon, Illinois, Ohio...California. There are so many students and young professionals everywhere, representing every corner of the world. There are nonprofits, NGO's, think tanks...and of course the giant department buildings along Constitution Avenue. Folks say Washington is to politics what NYC is to business. Having never seen the Financial District in NY, I can only imagine how fast-paced and dynamic it must be. Washington has a distinct feel to it. Politics run this town and the air just feels...important. People know and care about what happens on the hill and in the courts...and, of course, what happens to Donovan, Mike, and the Skins.

Today it rained on and off; tonight it's pouring. Heard it was 115 in Downtown LA the other day...I guess some raindrops aren't so bad...



It's been a quick first month and I'm slowly getting used to life out here...More specifically, life on my own. I live in a neat part of town right by Logan Circle. It's a few blocks from U street, a few blocks from downtown, and a few blocks from Dupont. I've figured some things out, like how to ride the Metro (lots of practice), how to grocery shop without a car (sadly, you never get everything you need in 1 trip), where to read on a nice day (the Mall, National Botanic Garden, or the Metro). In fact, I've been, at least once, on all the Metro Lines in the city. Now if I could only figure out the buses...I'll really be pro. I found a few good bars in town ($6 Powers whiskey), I found a new place to get my hair cut (with a crapload of famous politicians and justices all over the wall), and found a great local bookstore (just bought a great new book today). I understand why Julia and her empanadas are so famous (looove Chilean style after a night of drinks) but not why they can't just build a Jack in the Box somewhere close by. Have yet to try a Five Guys, Cosi, Au Bon Pain, or Ben's Chili Bowl- I know, total fail on my part. I found an indoor shopping complex with 1 huge entrance, consisting of a - Best Buy, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Staples (with a Julia's right across the street) right off the Green/Yellow Line too! Hooray for Transit-Oriented Development. I strolled through Adam's Morgan on a Saturday night and had dinner at the Madam's Organ (BBQ!). Oh, and I found a Japanese Market, complete with all the basics you might find at Nijiya or Mitsuwa. About 1/16th the size of a supermarket, it still does the trick. I guess I'm slowly figuring things out here, and have a ways to go.

Oh, and School is intense. Reading for days. But that's school. All I can do is laugh that I'm actually paying to do this to myself. I think it's worth it.

Finally, I do find myself thinking about life back home. I miss the ocean air and the marine layer. I so miss Wednesday mornings. I miss El BJ and Umemura and GBowl. But I'll be back eventually, and I might as well start appreciating this opportunity now. I'll try to keep this up, keep a record of what I've been able to accomplish here in DC...if not only for a good laugh 10 years from now.

Be well everyone, and look what I got from the bookstore today:



cheers!

VOTE

I like to say it every election day. Get out there and vote! It's a pain in the ass to make your way down to that polling spot, but it matters!

Some may have seen the commercials touting 'yes' on prop 16, which they call the "right to vote" act or something insane like that. Don't be fooled! This prop is just a way for PG&E to circumvent the traditional legislative process and take advantage of California's unique proposition system. PG&E wants to pass this law, which works directly against local governments, preventing them (without a 2/3 vote) from diversifying their utilities. Smaller energy companies, many of which use a higher percentage of renewables than PG&E, are capable of delivering more sustainable energy to cities; however, this proposition would virtually make it impossible for them to switch without a super-majority vote. This proposition virtually eliminates all of PG&E's competition, hence, their massive spending on 'yes on 16' commercials.

In effect, a 'yes' vote on this proposition is not a voter's right to vote, it's a 'yes' vote for a PG&E monopoly.

The saddest thing? Local governments are forbidden to spend on campaigns, so 99% of the money in this debate comes out of PG&E's pockets. They're hiding the truths of the issue; in fact, the commercials PG&E have running all night don't ever truly touch the real issues at hand. They're trying to play us all for fools.

Stand up to these clowns, keep competition in the energy markets, and vote for a more sustainable future!