PLAYLIST

HOW EXCITIN'!

Here's a wee taster of the first single from the New album. Ooft! #FirstLight #DjangoDjango

A video posted by Django Django (@thedjangos) on Jan 9, 2015 at 4:55am PST

CLOSING IN ON CATCHING UP

Replica of the sign made famous in Lonesome Dove in a gas station somewhere in Louisiana:

The gal came back and then the next day, they were both gone and we haven't seen them since:

I've learned the pleasure of persimmons:

We've been having meals with KMHD + Everett more frequently. Graffiti's is a favorite:

SOLO has been wanting to be near me more, which is flattering even if I can't get any werk done:

We went to Burge's recently and it so worth mentioning. Never change, Burge's!

Sometimes, KMHD + I just need to get out of the house. A little grocery store loitering on a Saturday night:

Passenger:

This is only remarkable because it looks like a regular Xmas tree photo, but I was approaching breakdown from having too much to do and too little time to do it.  This is a "and yet you managed to get the tree up amidst it all" snapshot.  Appearances = deceiving:

I won this cool fan in a contest:

The very beginning of a very bad visit with dad:

Dad does have an impressive bonsai garden, somehow:

Blasts from my hometown past:

The last Kilgore/13th Division Xmas party:

Me + my office mates didn't have a big budget to throw Judge Kilgore a bangin' retirement party, but we pulled it off and it was brilliant. Judge's sons came from LA and DC as a surprise and, well, we made the old man cry.  Nailed it! These are pride pics here:

I got sick the day before we were to fly out to Seattle. I didn't want to be the jerk who was sick and then got on an airplane, so I actually went to see the doctor THEE day we were to fly out.  They tested me for flu, which is an awfully intrusive procedure. Thankfully, I tested negative.  They gave me a most painful shot in the rear, a z-pack, and the go-ahead for travel.

Judge Kilgore oathing in my new boss, Hon. Mike Reif. Work has been weird lately and I don't expect that to let up any time soon:

There is a casual limo driver in our neighborhood:

TC

A few weeks ago, I learned that my friend TC was murdered. I'm afraid at how dark my thoughts turn when I think of the perpetrator. I cannot even say how I really feel, it's disgusting.  It's hard to hush these ideas.

Then there's the deep sadness and the painful emptiness of his absence and yet, he is everywhere! His influence is so part of my everyday life that it essentially goes unnoticed because it's my normal.  He was a good friend to me and I will miss him immensely.

Much love to the living.


By Isaac Alexander

KMHD + TC:

BEST OF THXGIVING 2014

Since we weren't going to be around for the Xmas holiday, we spent Thxgiving in Mississippi with ATM's fambly.  Here are my favorite bits.

FOOD. All of the food was fantastic, but my favorite was the WATERGATE SALAD aka green salad and there were two kinds. I don't know why this stuff gets such a bad rap, it's terrific and weird and magical and kitschy. Pass it here!

BABES.  My nephews are getting grown. The rate at which children grow/develop is astonishing. I cannot see how parents stand to witness it, really, because as a casual observer, it's amazing with the mildest pangs of heart ache. Slow down, little one!

DOGE. Here is Daisy, the newest member of the Morgan pack. She has such an expressive face and will fall asleep in your arms. A delightful creature.

A tardy post, I know, but I've been hella occupied, every minute accounted for.  WOOF. Probably you as well, eh?

DO OVER

I'm still recovering from a fantastic trip to Memphis last weekend. I wish we could do it all over again. It started with a fine meal from Hog + Hominy where we met up Brittany + her main squeeze Eric. While it was good, I wasn't crazy about my entree - short ribs - or ATM's biscuit gnocchi, but I can deffo vouch for the poutine, the Parmesan gelato, and Carol's Delightful Smile - a malted chocolate pudding pie on an Oreo crust with a smattering of crushed Whoppers on top.  H+H has got a solid barkeeper who has mastered classic cocktails like Old Fashioneds, Sidecars + martinis and he kept them coming. The coolest part was that our entire bill was picked up by a local food distributor that Eric works with, a restaurant managerial perk. It only set us back about $20 apiece for service, an absolute bargain for the quality and quantity that we consumed.

From there, we went to the Hi-Tone to see the new Thee Oh Sees.  I feel like Thee Oh Sees are the band that we can all agree about. They're so good! Seeing them live, even with the new line-up, made my love for them grow exponentially. I'm obsessed!  Ask ATM with whom I share a living space with! He knows! Anyway, tightly packed house, great show. THANK YOU, THEE OH SEES!


After the show and before we got back to our hotel, we did something I'm not exactly proud of.  We went to Krystal - a first time for me - and ordered a sackful and a half.  The four of us hoovered 18 sandwiches in minutes.  Ok, so you definitely should be inebriated to make any of that acceptable, socially and taste-wise.  I was in heaven while I was eating them, though, and did not suffer gastronomically, as far as I can tell.  In fact, the eating frenzy probably prevented massive bad-feelings the next day.

Don't really know what went down in the elevator lobby:




But, I definitely know what went down in Room 810:


In the morning, I felt hopeful that I wasn't hungover, but then this banjo'd + ukelele'd outfit started tuning up in the coffee shop we were at and then they started playing and that's when I KNEW that I did not escape the previous night unscathed. YIKES. I do think it could've been worse, so thanks Krystal Burger?
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

After making our usual rounds at Goner Records + House of Mews, we had lunch and then took a stroll on Main St. mostly to go see a mural of Jimmy Lee Lindsey, Jr., but also for digestive purposes. From there, we parted ways. Britt and Eric are super fun to travel and hang out with, I'm really looking forward to our next situation, which might be as neighbors! If all goes well, gal will be living on the same street as me! BFFs, indeed!

PHOTO DUMP

A very cold war view:


Found this gecko in my office:


Hej, Arkansas!


Beautiful vintage Kachina embroidered patches from WLTCo.


Heavenly pistachio cake:


Love Dragon in her psychological kitty jail:

36 THIS YEAR

The Fresh and Onlys OR The Moody Blues?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2014

Had real fun times at Blatz' (That's Blair + Matt's) House on Halloween.  We didn't make it to destination WWT.  Not even upset.  From L-R: #16 Jeff Hanson, #17 Steve Hanson, and #18 Jack Hanson:

KMHD + Everett as Guinness World Record title-holders for longest nail growth.  Best costumes, IMO.  So sick, so subversive, so A+++:

A week before the actual holiday, we went to our neighbor Jake's Halloween party.  He outfitted his jukebox with 'spooky', 'scary' songs, which I thought pretty spiffy:

WHAT'S UP?

When we were in Ft. Smith last, ATM + I popped into this used bookstore we like. We were about to leave empty handed when I spotted in the 10¢ bin Christopher Pike's Die Softly.  I couldn't resist.

Our weekly allowance wasn't much, so my best gals + I would buy Christopher Pike [and Stephen King and Dean Koontz] pocket books and swap them.  This was in junior high school.  Total bookworms, we read every chance we got, lunch breaks, and sometimes during class.  Our teachers always commented on how thrilled they were to see us read but PUT IT AWAY NOW.



As a young teen, these books were a glimpse into the lives of other teens anywhere, but Ft. Smith, Arkansas. These kids seemingly didn't have any adult supervision or curfews, they had their own cars, some were involved in adult situations, and then there were the murders. We couldn't get enough.  After reading Die Softly again, I got on the internet and bid on a lot of 27 books - that's not even all of them, but a really good start - because I want to read them all again.  I've been enjoying reading these silly-ass young adult horror novels during the Halloween month.  No joke, I think it'd be fun to try to bang out one of these stories myself, with the help of ATM, natch.  I don't think you have to be particularly good. It's a formulaic process, and we just need to find the right one. And, too, it'd be hilarious to try to write a story about teenagers - how far off the mark would we be?   I suppose first things first, we need to come up with a pseudonym. What say ye?

***  

Even though I've been eating well, I still yield to my sweet tooth here and there.  Alannah hipped me to these dairy-free, no added sugar choco pops that taste incredible and really does the trick and treat. We have popsicle molds, but you can use little cups + popsicle sticks or even bust out the ice cream maker.

You'll need: 

One can of full-fat coconut milk
1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 t cinnamon
1 t vanilla extract

In a saucepan, warm the coconut milk.  Add the chocolate chips, vanilla, and cinnamon, stirring constantly until melted, combined, and smooth. Pour into your molds and freeze.  You can add other things like chili powder or cocoa nibs, but we keep ours simple.  I think the next time I make it, I am going to run it through ice cream maker.  Speaking of which, I scored this beast a few weeks ago at the thrift store:



I didn't even know they made double ice cream makers until I sawr this one!  Incredible.

REQUIEM POUR UN CON

This is the first Serge Gainsbourg song I ever heard, so it is my favorite. I'll never forget hearing it for the first time, it was a beautifully devastating moment.  

FOLLOW THE BEARS

The 2 Bears have a new LP out and while it's no BE STRONG, it's still delicious.  Especially this banger of a track:

I WANNA SEE ALL MY FRIENDS AT ONCE

This past Thursday, a sum of us went roller skating, my first time in 10+ years.  I thought I'd be better than I actually am as I was quite the roller rink brat back in the day. Even though it took me the entire hour to feel any confidence, I'm keen on getting back there ASAP, if not for the blissful liberty of self-propulsion, but to watch the skate-dancers. They're cool as hell.  They definitely took my mind off my wobbliness. I was so absorbed watching them which caused me to relax and skate better. I think I'm going to start traveling with my skates to check out other rinks.

Chicago-inspired?






KMHD + I have our own skates, natch:

+++

Brittany + I woke up early Saturday and headed west towards Pinnacle Mountain State Park to go horseback riding. After having a disgusting, muggy week, we were treated to a perfectly cold morning. I'm talking flannels, cable-knit sweaters, scarves, and jackets. I miss riding a lot and need to somehow somehow find a way to make it regular in my life.



Nice view of Pinnacle Mountain from the trail:


I was surprised at how much love I have for cute country boys.  Our guide was adorable.  His other jobs include helping run the haunted house on Roosevelt, bull riding in the rodeo, and breaking horses:


Glorious:



Photo by Brittany

+++

After riding, we had a quick lunch in West Little Rock and went back to our respective places to chill; Britt had to report to work later and I had a wedding to go to.  

Best wishes to Sara + Zach!  And Ike.


Louise made an appearance:


Sydney smuggled in a bottle of wine into reception locale Vino's, so we had a private party for two amidst all.  I had a really good time.  Mr. and Mrs. Zach Reeves, y'all nailed it!

Photo by Jack

To-do:  Write down all of my ideas + plans, big and small.  Start knockin' 'em out.