I'm not gonna let this get me down.

More documentation of my 2200 mile journey from LA to Milwaukee - my friend Maxwell captures me and the mood, pre-driving, across the country.
If you can make out the graffiti, it says "Heavy".
Yep.
Sure was.
As Dylan says, you just gotta keep your hand on the plow.
 
http://www.mergerecords.com/artists/telekinesis

Two hours of pushin' broom buys an eight by twelve four-bit room. I'm a man of means by no means. King of the road.

Finally back in New York after a wild journey that included driving a 22' Penske truck loaded up with all my belongings from LA to Milwaukee with my pops riding shotgun and trading off with me when I got tired.

And now I'm just in my office, getting caught up on work and finally starting to really feel this Bat For Lashes album, that at first, I really didn't care for but which currently has me under its' spell.

http://www.batforlashes.com/

And Hudson comes into the world.

Had sort of been blawg-quiet lately in the last week or so.

Though my actual-life was quite the opposite.

Got a call a week and a half ago and found out that a renter was going to take over the lease of my apartment in LA (good news), 
so I had to fly back the following day with a sinus cold (bad news) to start packing up my life 
for the second time in 5 months - the first was my move from Portland to LA in October.
Managed to sell a ton of stuff - sofa, desk, bookcases, furniture in general and made a bunch of donations to Goodwill.
All of which felt amazing to let go off.
Stuff. Goodbye stuff.
I also sold my car, which was actually the toughest thing to let go of.
It's not that it was the most awesome car (2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue), rather it was the "meaning" of the car - the sense of independence, 
and all the memories it held - roadtrips out to the coast, the desert, to LA and back, from Milwaukee across the country to Portland, etc.
The same day I was selling my car in LA, my best friends, Molly & Dyrayll, were having their first child back in Portland.
I was letting go of things, and at the same time, something living was coming into the world.
Something beautiful and much more important.
It was an interesting moment for me.
I was sitting in a Starbucks in Burbank contemplating the amount that Carmax offered me for my car 
and whether I was going to take their offer.
Evening was coming on and the sky was a moody color and busy with clouds.
At some point a feeling of letting go came over me and I realized that it was time.
Felt very clear to me.
Goodbye stuff.

So I then flew back to NYC and got back to working and my new routine out here.
Working hard on a TV commercial at the moment.

Friday I get a call from the Beverly Hills Police Department.
Apparently they've got two fellas in custody that had some of my possessions on them.
Turns out they broke into my storage unit and jacked some of my things.
My head was swimming.
Did they get my records?
My music gear?
Personal information?
Felt violated and bummed out.

That was Friday, today is Tuesday.
It is still being sorted out by the police, but it's looking like I may have caught a super lucky break 
in that they caught these guys in time before they may have unloaded any of my possessions.
So, ah...
Feels like spring is coming on and things are getting better, warmer, sunnier.
I got a gal that loves me, great friends and family, some work at the moment and my health.
Counting all my blessings.

And here's a song from a band called It Hugs Back from their new album that I'm feeling:

Give 'em some support.

http://4ad.com/ithugsback/releases/inside-your-guitar-0/

What's the use in dying, dying, if I don't know when.

It's my dad's birthday today.

He turned 65 and according to a telephone conversation with my mom, 
apparently he has flown down to Florida for a fraternity reunion event of sorts.
Tried to reach him on his cell phone, but no luck.
He's not one for that kind of technology.
Was hoping I'd get through to him though.
Miss that man.

And last night I dreamt of being back in Los Angeles, driving around.
I actually miss that city, though I lived there so shortly.
I think my body is having a slightly hard time adjusting to the colder weather and really craving light.
Perhaps partially due to the fact that I am working in an office most of the day, save for breaks, and finishing up every day when it is dark outside. 
Can't wait for spring.

Listening to this album by Here We Go Magic right now.
Amazing stuff.
Right tone for the day.
Kind of melancholic, yet oddly hopeful.
In this track, his voice reminds me of Paul Simon's a bit.

 

Also, saw School Of Seven Bells last night at Le Poisson Rouge and got to see my old pal, Sam Ghostly. Good times.

How does someone with nothing, end up with so much to show for it?

Still in NYC, hanging in my office right now, listening to the School Of Seven Bells album.

 

Reminds me of driving around in my car in LA, windows rolled down, warm sea air blowing wildly in.
Makes me miss good Mexican food and reminds me of the recent time that Sam Ghostly and I went 
to a little taco place on Pico Blvd., the day after we heard about Charlie from Telefon Tel Aviv.
Sad, sad news.

Trying to do good things with my life.
Trying to be creative.
Trying to live compassionately and passionately.
Trying to be full of truth & beauty.

http://www.schoolofsevenbells.com/

http://ghostly.com/artists/school-of-seven-bells

Chasing Wavvves.

When you don't what else to fucking do, or you feel scared or sad or frustrated,
just put on the new Wavves LP and skank around your house.
 
It'll all get radder.
Much radder.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skank_(dance)

http://ghostramp.blogspot.com/

http://www.fuckittapes.com/woodsist.htm

http://www.myspace.com/wavves

Skankin'-in-my-Los Angeles-apartment-photo courtesy of my ol' pal, Dyrayll: http://www.freshpaintpdx.com/