Red Mango Curry

Portland, is a place where a lot of my friends move to. I don't know why. I've never been there, on an extended stay.
The only way I've experienced Portland is driving through it. This last last time driving down to LA, Scott and I stopped @ Nikolas's Lebanese restaurant in PDX, per recommendation of Chris Brown. When we were paying for our bill, two women at another table were looking at us and laughing. After a few minutes they ended up offering their leftovers to us. Which we accepted of course.
A lot of artists I'm fascinated by have moved to and from Portland within the last two years.
In Seattle I met a freejazz Shaman, we'll call him Shane. He told Sarine and I that we could sleep in the hay at his barn in Portland, if we ever came down to visit. He said he had a telephone and that we could call him at the given number. He was a nice scoundrel. He was in his late sixties and kept hiding his retainer, that held his false teeth, in the couch, or in the dish rack, or on the edge of the bathroom sink so that people would sit on it, or find it and be shocked. He had curly-curly grey hair that he wore in afropuffs and his pants were some of the strangest bell-bottoms I have ever seen.
I never took that trip to visit Shane. Not yet, at least. I still have his number.

Last night, Scott and I made a wonderful red curry with Mango. I would have entered it into a contest. It was THAT good.

I interviewed for a telefund position in Downtown LA yesterday. The job would have me raise money for democrats. Scott didn't do well on his interview, it might have been too much emotionally, poor guy. Maybe Scott and I can get jobs at the LA Gay center, or whatever its called.

Empty Spaces, Excesses of Light

Scott and I made it down to LA! We found a place within a few days of living there. I have built a desk out of a bed frame and old red door that were chucked behind our apartment. It is nearly complete.

We're enjoying talking about what kind of a place our new home should be: what things we'd like to pursue, the sorts of things we will be shying away from. There is seriously some big decision making that is involved with deciding whether or not you should have a couch. I am considering all of the hours I've been lost on a couch. We're trying to create an environment with a focus on making plans and following through with them. So far, without the couch this has been realized! Maybe will have throw pillows or ottomans.

Now that were down here, money is running out, fast. I WILL find a job soon, I'm good at that. For the first time in a while I'm feeling the presence of poverty. It has this discomforting way of reminding you how REAL the situation is that you've found yourself in. Making good financial decisions can be disheartening. Wants and needs become more clear. Its easy to get lost in an identity of poverty and humility. I am focusing on staying busy and doing small things that get me closer to whatever goals I have (school, art, being more of a loving, perceptive and understanding individual, etc.).

That said, compared with Washington state, it is WAY difficult to get food stamps here. We were at the department of services for at least four hours! Now that I'm "eligible" there is a long list of documents they need to give me an EBT card. I'll show them I need it. I'll show them how bad I want to eat what I want for free/next to nothing!

This evening Scott and I made dinner per usual. It was our first dinner at our new place. It consisted of fettuccine, fresh tomatoes, garlic, onion, thyme, bay leaves, lemon juice, a serrano chili AND squid. Halfway through the meal I was turned off by the squid. It was chewy and there was too much of it. Its like a poor man's scallop. I don't think I'll be using it again unless its chopped up fine for ceviche or something of that sort. Beyond the squid the meal was delicious.

There is SO much light and heat here. I sweat all day and night long. Its good but I forget to drink water. I generally have no problems hydrating. The thirst sneaks up on you. I peed and noticed that I hadn't been this dehydrated in months and months.

Things are changing quickly. I'm noticing myself creating new rituals and amending my old ones. Moving to another city is one of the things I really love about life. New challenges and experiences are like a wild mental fuel. I feel brave. I feel powerful.

Radio Ibrahim

Shadi Ghadirian Qajar Ghetto Blaster

We Will Have Sticky Greedy Fingers When We Meet

O woe of woes, my digital camera is malfunctioning. All my pictures are coming out blurred! Anyone have any ideas? They have been turning out like this. When I zoom it becomes a little more focused. Nothing close to what things used to look like.

The following photos are from before the heinousness. 

We have been painting the basement gold and poopy chocolate brown!

The first BBQ! Croquet was played. Morgan released a film and a had a hotdog after party at his home in beautiful Georgetown. The building in the back is an old carriage house with holes in the windows that Morgan pees out of. Morgan has his room where the window on the top floor is. This picture is taken from a window on the porch.

Shauna and Morgan. Most panoramic photos are taken by Scott. 

In a wheel chair. 

Tika hard at work for Elliott Bay in Pioneer Square. Tika leaves in one month for nomadic wanderings up and down our coast and that other coast east of here.

Scott and I got bored and took a ferry to Bremerton on a very beautiful and warm day. Perfect weather for sailing! Bremerton wasn't amusing. We left after teriyaki and a visit to Monica's Social Club.

Then off to SHEBANG! for this season's second barbecue. Turkey burgers with all kinds of stuff inside. 

Echo was there! It also happened to be 420. All of these people were stoned and slightly awkward but genuinely welcoming. Weed makes me wacky, I generally abstain, but I heard the cookies were delicious.

The SHEBANG! kitchen.

Some of Spring's first blooms. Camellia.

Dancing in my room, prefunking before a spring party @ Ian's.

Where we met this guy! Who Ian claims is our love-child. I see only slight resemblances. It was nice to make this young man's acquaintance. Its less twisted than it looks, really.

There is no working outlet in the bathroom.

Another wonderful time spent at Robert and Maggie's.

Emily will be embarking with Tika and moving to Olympia. You will be missed so very much Emily. Thanks for being a friend and liking me so immediately.

Scott and I are moving to LA in 9 weeks!!

4.16.09

I spilled the pink everywhere. This post was started a few days ago and this picture was supposed to be used a nice introduction to come to the Braid Storm show. I slept on it. Oops.


Scott broke his collar bone.


Eight hours later in the ER. All he gets is a sling and some drugs.


Cairo.




Brainfruit.

Here is Always Somewhere Else

Besides the coke dealer that wanted to kill me - I was giving him "fuck you" vibes - I had a lot of fun at a house show!

Pictured: Filth Mattress

Throne of Bone

Rachel aka Granny's Gristle.

More Croquet!

Man Lebt Nur Zweimal

I went on a social bender last weekend. Saying "yes" to everything. Allowing myself to have lumps in my throat.

TomandAndrea's house. Andrea's birthday. She is the one on the floor. Check out that guy's look of astonishment. 

Nate Mooder bombing, post Braidstorm.

Jon.

Jeff.

Jamie Jalope.

Its about the getting there, with no arrival in sight.

These photos stitched together were taken last night @ Robert's house. Robert and his housemates live in a building that will be demolished soon. They get to do whatever they want to it. The outside and inside is covered in graffiti, various artworks and sculptures. 

Mark and Chris are moving out from downstairs. Three friends from the East side are moving in: Lena, Jamie, and Waylan at some point. They've got a dog and a cat.

Robert and his crew have known these guys for years. They grew up in the sprawl that boomed in the eighties in Lake Sammamish area. 

Most of them dropped out of High School. Tired of not having enough money to fit in or being called fag every day. They knew there was something better. It seems they found "it" in still looking for this something. Simply tasting, seeing and constantly experimenting.

These new additions presented themselves as down-to-earth sweet hearts. People with good hearts that have seen more than they wanted. I was glad to hear their stories.

In alleys I may find myself:

I have been sick! Its been one helluva ride. I am waking up daily to a new color from my nose. No documentation folks, lo ciento.

We will be selling drinks at my house tonight. Stabbings are finishing up a tour and Sioux City Pete and the Beggars are starting one. Tempers will also be playing. Things get going at nine.

The band I'm in has been named Wet Paint. It took me awhile to warm up to this name. I am finding it apt. We have been taking notes from a traditional musical ensemble called Gamelan from Indonesia(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamelan). Now that Chris is back from touring with Planets we can pick up the pace again. 

And here is the last three weeks in pictures:

My great aunt Beryl died. It was the first funeral I've been too. The couple pictured below are a mother and son I am related too. If you would like to hear their story. Please say so.

This is my mom and I.

It was her idea to jump for the picture. I was on time but she missed the mark. My cousin's wife took this photo.

My friend's Jake and Rebecca got married. This is Jake's bachelor party. Since, traditionally, lap dances happen this was our idea of an ethical one. A lap dance shared between two men without evident sexual attraction towards each other.

Sarah Jones of Ruffeo Hearts Lil' Snotty. Up from New York to make the wedding garments and hang out with some friends.

This one is for Gilda.

Tracy and Jonny.

Lucas in RHLS gear.

 

This March it snowed in Seattle.

ALASKAS.

Midwife.

The new area at the arboretum.

Photos from the first speak easy. These are views from the DJ table. Rose is dancing to Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust."

Eric.

The Wedding! 

Maxwell-on far right-is the other half of RHLS. When he lived in Seattle we became close friends. I have a lot of admiration for RHLS work ethic and product. They are two WONDERFUL people.

Echo and Eric, the people who sleep in our basement. Echo pays rent; Eric is a boyfriend.

Scott is busy bookbinding!