peace love & soul

Truly rest in peace Don Cornelius.

In case you didn't know, this is an open invite event.  Please come.  Bring your best vegan/vegetarian dish and some of your favorite vinyl.  TOFU HAPPENING is a truly enjoyable event, so mark your calendar!  Also, we are looking for a location for the next one -- any volunteers?

What's tops in January 2012

1.  Internet radio: I know what I like and you know what you like & we can make playlists all day and night, but sometimes you've gotta get out of that vacuum and leave it to the pros.  Good DJs are ones that introduce me to new (or new to me) music.  A few of my favorites:

• The Crystal Telephone with Rotary Rachel.  I'm not going to even try to peg her style, so just have a listen.  If you don't listen to her show, you should at least follow her on twitter.  She is so clever & funny, I'm afraid if I go on about it, it will reveal my crush.

• Beats In Space with Tim Sweeney.  This is for folks who have an affinity for electronic music.  If that's not your bag, I can't help you.  Move along.   

• They're Only Records Paul with Paul Thomson.  This one's good for classics, variety & weirdness. 

These radio stations are usually pretty reliable, too:  KEXP (Seattle), WFMU (NY), and WNYU (NY) 

2.  Broccoli slaw -- seriously.  What can't you do with it?  Burrito filler, veg egg rolls, salad, and so forth.  It's so good for you, but more importantly, it's very delicious.  If you can't figure out what to do with it, then what are you even doing in the kitchen?  Since we're talkin' food, let's give high praise to clementines and the fact that I learned to cook aloo gobi and quite well, too.

3.  Eureka Springs, Arkansas.  ATM hasn't been since the 90s and I haven't been in say... 10 years?  We try to take a mini-holiday in January to combat winter blues and for the past couple of years, we've gone to Dallax.  Being short on both time & $$$, we decided to have an in-state break.  Good idea! you say.  And how!  We stayed at the Crescent Hotel ("You've gotta do it once!" everyone said), had a really great meal at Local Flavor Cafe (start with the baked brie), and rounded out the evening with drinks at The Stone House, which is very cozy & smells faintly of cedar.  Be sure to drink way too much cava here.  Alannah knew the gang running that joint, so we could hang out longer than the 10 p.m. close time.  I had too much wine fun.  I am looking forward to going back.

So, as you look at these photos, please be on the lookout for any spooky supernatural happenings.  I haven't been able to spot any myself.  But, we spent the night in one of the most haunted buildings in America!  But, all I heard throughout the night was the radiator!

Our little room:

Resident feline putting me at ease:

Ex-, with that weak winter sunlight:

Int-:

4.  Crystal Bridges Museum of Art.  From Eureka Springs, we trekked over to Bentonville to visit the new museum.  My whole life, I've never taken to the view that Arkansas is the most backwards state of the Union.  I've assigned that designation to some of our neighbors to the N, S, E & W of us.  On the contrary, Arkansas is a gem!  A diamond, in fact.  I was born & raised here, so perhaps I'm biased.  But, if one maintains the dim view that this is a place lacking any culture or substance, then I'm convinced you've never even been here OR that you never left the River Market.  Much to the world's *dismay (and numerous Arkansans), we got Crystal Bridges Museum.  I'd say that it's a work in progress, but it is still quite good.  Definitely a big score for our lovely little state.

This is my third Roxy Paine tree I've seen:

I'll only post a few of my favorite pieces, as to not spoil it for those who haven't been:

5.  Kim Deal

6.  David Bowie

7.  Scouting NY is a wonderful blog by Nick, a movie location scout.  If you are like me and always wonder what it's like to go into certain buildings around here, this is like that, but in glorious world famous New York City!  Bookmark this one.  Nick is raising $$$ to make a film.  I'm willing to bet that it's worthy of a few of your dollars.

8.  Apartamento Magazine.  It is self-described as ''an everyday life interiors magazine", which is spot on.  Doable interior design & decorating, mostly with what you've got.  With a little rearranging and better lighting, your home can be wonderful!  Good voyeuristic content, as you can peek into homes of other's, but not in a Better Homes kind of way.

9.  Weekends @ home.  It's hard fighting the urge to hop into the car and just go to Memphis, Hot Springs, or NWA.  But, with the upcoming trip to Vietnam, it makes sense to stick around and work on the house.  I like it there with the hanging out, cooking, and even cleaning.  

10.  Turner Classic Movies.  If the t.v. is on, it's probably on this channel.  I recently watched Pressure Point, starring Sidney Pointier -- his performance was so great that I didn't even realize I was holding my breath until I was gasping for air.  Watching old movies forces me to slow down and pay attention and really listen.  I love looking at the sets and costumes.  I actually enjoy being horrified by old timey thinking and ideas.  Some things, good and bad, don't change.

At least we don't have to peel wallpaper.

I took off work early today because I was feeling terrible.  I've gone and slept through the day, and pretty soundly too.  It was just what I needed because I'm feeling much better.  ATM was so kind to pick me up some aloo gobi take-out, so I'm proper fed.  I've taken a quick lesson in Vietnamese online and had a bath.  I'm on top of my game, so, how about some freewheelin' writing whilst listening to The Cramps?  Apropos.


On Monday, we were going to paint our bedroom walls.  What started out as a straightforward project is now a full-blown undertaking.  ATM started spackling problem spots and I was about to begin laying painters tape on the molding when we realized that if we wanted to do a job well done, then we'd have to paint the ceiling AND the molding before painting the walls because it appears the previous owner did not lay down tape, or pretty much do anything properly in this house ever, and got that ugly paint everywhere.  It's infuriating.  Every project here is contingent on our fixing the mistakes of the past.  Pish.  Anyway, it'll be so rewarding when we are done.  And every time we do something to this house, I love it more.  You just wait and see.  We will turn this little house into something else.


Here is our inspiration.



The current hue, what we call nicostained, makes the light very weird and disorienting.  The lighter color will definitely correct the lighting situation and our mood.  And I am very happy that we're even paying any attention to our bedroom, since there are so many other things around here that needs to be fixed, replaced, or remodeled. 


If we have time, we will start dismantling the cabinets over the stove.  I've stopped making weekend plans for the time being so we can hang around to work on this old house.  I'm glad to do it.


Tet is on Monday, the 23rd, but we'll be celebrating this Sunday at the temple.  As usual, I'm looking forward to it.  Year of the Dragon.  Collin won't be accompanying us, which saddens me.  I've gone with Collin more than anyone and we've gone for many years.  At any rate, I really hope that erryone has a crackin' good new year!  

01-13-10

f r e e

This is such an amazing opportunity, I had to post it right away: You would have access to 400 free online courses from top universities if only you clicked HERE.

It allows you to download these audio & video courses straight to you computer or mp3 player, so it's very convenient.  

Brilliant.

Oh-twelve.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  OH, TWELVE!  I've got some things I'd like to accomplish this year including trying to honestly care for myself, travel big (Viet Nam in March. Possibilities: Chicago, Arizona, New Orleans, & Miami), perhaps get something significant done to the house, and KMHD and I will lay out a timeline for our future business endeavor and start doing the dull tasks that entails.  That's a manageable list.  I broke a big, nasty habit last year (smoking cigarettes - eeeew!) and would like to try to either break another bad habit or start a good one.  I'm not going to file all of this under 'resolutions' because it's something I'm constantly working towards anyway and I don't think I really gain from the benefits of a new year bounce.

The Cabin/NYE was sublime this go around.  It's really all in the company you keep.  ATM, KMHD, Jonathan, Steve & Shawn were the stars of the show with special guests Andrew & Hannah.  I did miss Collin, though.  I stayed up beyond the stroke of midnight, drank steadily throughout w/o forming a sour disposition or a sour stomach, and this hangover is actually manageable.  Nothing that copious amounts of ice water, couch lounging & a Lush bathbomb can't help.  Over the course of the evening, I took stock of my life -- I like where some things are going, but some things (and people) make me really unhappy.  A few adjustments and straight up severing negative ties and everything will be much improved.  Housekeeping.

Anyway.

I can't tell you how many times I've considered closing shop and starting anew.  I've struggled with content & substance and the lack thereof.  But, wait, didn't I start this thing as a place to keep track of what I've been up to, so it'd be sequential and orderly when I need to do some recalling?  It's a journal.  Picking up regular readers, really, is just bonus.  Thanks for being here.

I think the struggle, too, is that I can't write.  Ho ho!  THERE, I SAID IT.  I do not have the talent to express in written word, and sometimes out loud, what it is I'm feeling, which is ultra frustrating.  If you don't have anything to say, don't, right?  Too, I don't like having my time wasted, so I try not do that to others.  I don't want this to be a waste of time, mine or yours.  Schizophrenic.  Paranoid.  Uch, I'll get it sorted.  

I do know what I don't want FEAR ANTS to be & that's a start.

December BAKER'S DOZEN 2011

1. Finally got some wedding photos from Rett.  This is my favorite:

2.  Daft Punk Xmas stockings!  Many thanks to Heather for helping me get this project going.  I could not have done it w/o her direction.  Andrew, too.  He put the finishing touches on his Bangalter and I just finished Guy-Man:

3.

4.  I send a lot of post, but rarely get anything in response.  In this day & age, it surprises me not.  Which is why when I received a hand written letter from Collin, I was not just elated, but genuinely surprised, too!  I carried it around in my back pocket for a day to show off, should I run into anyone.  Thank you, guy!  Didn't see that comin'. xx

5.  I'm in love with cooking & trying new culinary delights again.  I've been a subscriber to Bon Appetit for many years now and am only now cooking recipes out of it.  Out of the Dec '11 issue alone, I've made the shakshuka (recommended!), forked oven-roasted potatoes, and lemony slice + bake cookies -- they are all ace.  Lately, our favorite staple is simple avocado toast.  Toasted multi-grain bread with ultra ripe avocado spread on it like butter.  Salt, pepper, lemon juice & red pepper flakes.  Heavenly.  Have with tea.  Here's the shakshuka, which you serve with toasted bread or pita:

6.  Lonesome Dove.  I know this hardass named Amy who is loud, (c)rude, filthy & funny.  It is no good when we come together - I absolutely adore her. She once told me when she was in London long ago, she was finishing Lonesome Dove at a cafe and the ending made her openly sob in front of everyone. This coming from Amy, I was intrigued!  I'm reading it -- enjoying it immensely.  Classic.  Recommended.

7.  My boss, Judge Collins Kilgore.  When he's not driving me mad with these crises that he invents, he's a really funny, weird, stand-up guy.  We talk about bonsai (this is a one-sided convo), furoshiki, books (we read the same things), and food, amongst everything.  While I keep having these awful pay issues (judicial funds running out), he said he'd pay my salary out of his own pocket.  He is such a good boss!  Hip hip!

8. My dad, the other old man in my life.  Despite his being a total *maniac, he's very supportive of KMHD and I.  We've had an extremely strained relationship most of my life, but things have improved so much over the past year and a half, I've gone from calling him "Mike" to "Dad".  We just had a visit with him.  It was good.  You should see his house.

 

*Recovering alcoholic, 2 time war veteran with terrible health issues, including PTSD, OCD, and just being a general weirdo.

ATM, KMHD & the old man:

Snooper's Barn, downtown Ft. Smith:

9.  I've realized that I rely heavily on French house music to pull me from the depths time and time again.  If you are into it, too, lucky lucky you!  

DJ Mehdi (RIP) "Lucky Boy"

10.  My cousin MyTam beat cancer!  She suffers the side effects of radiation, brain shunts, and other treatments, but she is cancer free.  The experience helped us realize that time is of the essence, so we are planning a little trip to Miami in a year's time to go to Art Basel Miami Beach.

11.  Fayetteville, AR.  On a very recent trip, I had a lovely time, thanks to Alannah.  I didn't go to school there and visited sparsely way back when, so I do not have the deep seated connection that a lot of my friends have, but I occasionally feel the tug of NWA.  This time around, I didn't have to eat at restaurants that are nostalgic to my previous hosts/hostesses, like Hugo's or Tim's Pizza -- we ate @ Bordino's, which was quite good.  I didn't have time to go this time, but I love running into people in the maze that is Dickson St. Bookshop.  Just turn a corner.  Alannah made reservations for us to go to Crystal Bridges, but we didn't stay that long, as I was itching to get back home.  I believe we'll be up that way in January to further explore.  What little I did see was amazing.

12. The Thin Man.  What started out as a frequent crossword puzzle clue (Nick and Nora's dog: Asta) became a favorite series for me.  Recently, TCM showed them all in a row and I stayed up late to watch.  What a pair, that Nick & Nora!  I love this look that Nora gives Nick throughout:

And I love his making her eggs very late at night:

13.  Sometimes I think I'd like to go by my first and middle name.  I do, by notecard.

So, here comes the new year!  No resolutions, just DO BETTER.  You?

I'm here.

It is a surprise to NO ONE that I'm busy, right?  Today, I am attempting to rearrange, move, reorganize piles that I have all over my house.  This is the task of tasks, one that fills me with disgust.  Why do I have so much stuff and not enough plants & art?  ARSON.  There'll be a purgin', sooner than later.  Typical of new years.


I'm working on a nice, big post.  I think it's got a lot of protein, which ought keep thou (me me me!) satisfied.

TOFU HAPPENING!

Bring mistletoe!

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