Went to Yosemite on Saturday. Pretty much the perfect car for the trip. Almost climbed a waterfall. Coolant leak. Home fine. Helicopters all night and morning.



I can probably see this from my roof. I work a block away.

http://www.shatters.net/celestia/ You can probably run it on your computer!

Johnny

I was listening to some Johnny Cash today on BART on my way back from the mechanic. and Sunday Morning Come down played. and I thought about his movie Walk The Line (cover art by Shepard Fairey btw) and how he really kind of spent most of his life high or drunk, but probably mostly high. and it makes me kind of puzzled, sad and wonder what his music would have been like if most of his songs were written if he had been clean. Would have been even better? More detailed and elegant? Or more dry, conservative and afraid?

I am listening to Nine Inch Nails right now, trying to find a song that I'd like my dad and mom to read the lyrics to, but I can't seem to find it. Maybe I am thinking of a different song. Trent Reznor is another great artist that has recently become "clean". That makes me wonder what his music would be like if he had been sober all this time. His new music, With Teeth and Year Zero is much harder, more complex, faster and louder. But also, there is a political undertone in the material and marketing.



I think his best work was The Fragile. A two disk set released 5 years after the previous album. I think every aspect about it is great, and probably the best thing rock and roll has heard since The Wall. It goes all over the place, but its easy to follow. It reminds me of swimming, maybe swimming in the dark. I don't know how else to put it. Lots of concept put into practice.

Anyways, since he's not doing drugs or drinking now, he's much more fit and buff. I suppose that is a common thing for people recovering? I have never been good at bulking up.

But I digress. Making art while living the life of a druggie or wino. Does it induce feelings of creativity that would be locked down otherwise? Or does it limit those who are already creative and bring them tumbling down into a wreck. Hitting rock bottom, losing your focus and becoming someone who only has the energy to stay on the straight and narrow with no room for anything other than Taking it One Day At a Time?

When I drink I open up, I talk and joke more and have a good time. Its nice, I am relaxed. But I can't really be motivated to write or draw. I've never done acid so I can't really say I've experienced tripping while painting or whatever the typical thing is that people do when they do that. I guess it works for some people.

I have been listening to Clem Snide's song "Bread" a lot lately. Its a great song to take a nap to. Possibly the best.

Major Service

oil filter
fuel filter
spark plugs
coolant
brake fluid
red line gear oil
redline diff oil
oil change

brake inspection, adjust parking brake if needed (miatas have weird issues here), inspect belts and hoses, check cooling system, adjust velves if applicable, check timing, check entire suspension and exhaust, inspec and rotate tires and inflation
$387 =(

I was honestly anticipating closer to $600 considering the age of my car and how many owners its had. So it actually came in under budget.

Drive Safe(r)

http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_5616932

Janice Ferris, a 34-year-old bookkeeper from San Leandro, had spent the evening socializing in Walnut Creek. She had an illegal blood alcohol level of 0.17 when her Honda compact struck a tunnel curb and came to rest in the fast lane one-third of the way through the northern bore.

Within minutes, the front wheel of a gasoline tanker driven by Sacramento resident Mervyn Lee Metzker struck Ferris's car. Then, a speeding out-of-service AC Transit bus with 55-year-old John Dykes at the wheel swerved to avoid the tanker and hit both vehicles. Dykes was thrown from the bus, which crashed into a concrete support pier outside the tunnel. The bus's impact opened the tanker, spilling 8,800 gallons of gasoline, igniting a 2,000-degree fire.

I like sad love songs. I like slow songs that are sad whether or not they are about love.

Sad shows and movies are becoming more popular (in a pop media sort of light), and so is sad music. Our country is depressed and the media is reflecting that.

I think we like sad stories because it brings us closer to crying, without actually having to let go. People like to walk up to the edge of the cliff and look over. Its dizzying. Its a relief. Its special.

your life is your life
don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on the watch.
there are ways out.
there is a light somewhere.
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness.
be on the watch.
the gods will offer you chances.
know them.
take them.
you can’t beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes.
and the more often you learn to do it,
the more light there will be.
your life is your life.
know it while you have it.
you are marvelous
the gods wait to delight
in you.

-The Laughing Heart;

oops

I deposited a big (to me) check from a freelance client ("a" makes it sound like I have more than one). On the way to the bank I noticed there was no signature on it. =(