Statanic Action!

April...Already.

2008-04-09T21:18:00.000-07:00

It's been exceedingly quiet around here. Mandy and I were joking that The Rapture had happened and nobody noticed...

Frito asked me to be his Best Man and next week I'm flying to Virginia Beach for the semi-annual company meeting. Should be fun, I'm hoping to hit the beach and at least dip my toes in the Atlantic.

The Last Good Day of the Year

2007-12-31T01:15:00.002-08:00

It's funny -- we've been working, running around for Xmas (which is a story in itself) and now new year's eve is upon us and Mandy and I still aren't sure of what we're doing!

The WSP wants to go to Science Friction, but M. says she's not up for a big party. We tried to aim for something more low-key like a party at a friend's house, but that fell through. So, now they'll be a flurry of phone calls and emails while we try and figure out what to do.

Anyway, I'm sure it'll be OK as long as there is plenty of booze.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

2007-12-31T01:15:00.001-08:00

Yeah...Randomage.

2007-12-14T10:46:00.000-08:00

Man, does time fly . You get yr routines and traditions and such, pay attention to the sign posts (equinoxes, solstices, etc.) and acquire more gray hairs (no wrinkles, tho!) and still the passage of time is a bit frightening.
Now that I am of a "certain age," I've begun to ponder the narrowing of options, the lessening of paths one can take, the end of things. e.g. Will I be physically able to pilot a motorcycle year round in ten years? Will I want to?

A week ago, I met up with Jeff, Derek and Jim. Gentlemen, dear friends, brothers I've known for over half my life. We shot the shit, discussed our aches and pains, the weirdness of checking out the ladies and realizing that you're old and they aren't and the various mechanisms for coping. It wasn't all serious, 'cause I spent most of the evening laughing my ass off, but in retrospect, this is what we humans do innit?

It's been an interesting year. And despite everything, there's a lot to look forward too. My girlfriend sometimes teases me for being so optimistic. But what choice do I have, in the face of the enormous problems humanity faces?

Anyway, I suspect 2008 will be like any other year, there will be heartbreak, tears and the agony of defeat, but also triumph, joy and laughter as well.

Werd.

Fackin' 'ell

2007-10-28T05:55:00.000-07:00

I have neglected this blog. Everytime I sit down to write, I wonder why bother. Tonight though, I was reminded of the original reason: I cannot remember everything and it's fun TO DO and then reflect on it later. So I guess it doesn't matter how banal someone else finds this.

Since my last post, Mandy and I went to Portland, I found out two of my friends have been fighting cancer, the bass player in one of my favorite bands has died, bought, played and finished Half Life 2: Episode 2, discovered the hallucinogenic wonder of Squidbillies and found that someone I thought I had a relatively firm grasp on is actually quite a bit different than I'd thought...but not in a bad way, it's quite endearing.

It's 6AM as I write this. I went to a birthday dinner for my old supervisor at Getty. We had some drinks and shot the breeze with Matt, Kim, Kiyo, Mandy and Richelle while Jay whipped up a leg of lamb, a flank steak roulade, beets, roasted potatoes and warm pita bread for dinner. Kiyo made chocolate cupcakes and Mandy and I brought a chocolate cake for dessert.

Around 11, Mandy and I went down to The Cretin's clubhouse for their Halloween party. They were doing karaoke when we arrived...which didn't really set things off. Mandy and I hung out and chatted with some of the new guys on the UTMC board. Mandy headed home around 12:30 and I stayed because I'd had two cups of coffee at Matt's and was FULLY AWAKE. (Hell, I'm awake now!) I made a feeble attempt at DJ'ing, but I didn't have a game plan so when Bob took over and spun old 45's (he'd bought a huge box full of them at Goodwill) things began to pick up!

I felt giddy and danced for quite awhile, even to Huey Lewis & The News and had a blast. Even though it was cold out, I was glad I rode my bike tonight...there's nothing more exhilarating than blasting down city streets that you have almost completely to yourself, knowing your warm bed awaits you (even if you don't get in it right away)!

I recently acquired the classic motorcycle racing movie "On Any Sunday" and since this is the Seahawk's "Bye Week", perhaps my major goal for tomorrow is to watch it with Ryan...and get breakfast somewhere. My room is clean and the laundry is done, so I can sleep as late as I want.

Anyway, I need to get back into the habit of updating this thing...

Dying Summer...

2007-09-13T23:21:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted here in awhile. I wish I could say I've been terribly busy and I suppose I was -- it just doesn't feel that way.
I (we) did a lot. There were BBQ's, parties, a trip to Vancouver BC, tons of fine dining (OK, dining), dancing, drinking in bars, a couple of trips to B-Town, etc. but somehow it feels like nothing really happened.
The change is already in the air, but there's a few weeks (hopefully) of good weather before it gets really cold. I guess that when you live in an era when the trees start blooming in February, winter is just a mild annoyance...well, to me anyway.
Nonetheless, I have some complex feelings about the fall. Knowing it's going to colder and darker makes me feel a little sad and wistful on one hand, while on the other, I look forward to eating lots of soup, lying under the heater at Mandy's and playing with Denali and coziness of one's own home...or bed.
I feel more energetic when it's cold...more focused. And once I'm over the SAD hump, happy to have something to look forward to.

Next week, Mandy and I go to PDX for the weekend. I haven't been to Portland in years...should be a lot of fun, even though I know I won't be able to get her to go to a strip club, heh.

July

2007-07-05T21:04:00.000-07:00

This week has been lovely. Yesterday, I had the day off and hung out with Mandy for part of the day. We wandered around the West Seattle junction, then I came home with the intent of heading up to my co-worker Rob's for a 4th of July BBQ.
But after I got home, showered (and promptly started sweating again), I decided to stay home and chill.
We have a lovely deck here and Tess, Ryan, Beth, Scotty, Laquita and Atlee were all here. Our gas grill has a leak, so Tess got a Weber.
Mandy came over with chicken, slaw and potato salad and we did our prep while everyone else was out at the store.
I was drinking limeade with the Thai whiskey that Frito brought back from his last trip.
Awhile later, I was full and happy...with a HUGE headache. Mandy stayed with me until about 11, then went home.
It was rough getting up this morning. I wasn't hung over, but man! I was was tired.
Tomorrow, Jay and I will meet at Robert's to BBQ some brisket's for Robert's wedding on Saturday. I'm also helping to cater the event. Jay got us Chef's jackets and everything!

Hello...

2007-04-19T13:55:00.000-07:00

Hello...

It's been awhile since I've had a chance to post here. Not having a computer and being busy at work has really cut down on my surfing/posting time.

Everything is coming along fine. I'm settled at Tess', I have a wonderful, sexy, funny and kind girlfriend, work is busy and the weather is getting good enough for some bike riding.

The last couple of months were really interesting. The NSC threw it's last (?) bash, the God Is Dead party, Matt, Leslie and Ana moved away to D.C., Stu and Rachel bought a new house. Maria's dog Arthur died, Mandy and I got to see Sparklehorse and Ted Leo (though not on the same day).

Tonight I'm meeting the NSC boys for the wrap up and settling of bidness.

Funny to think our project is finally over after seven years...

The Last Fortnight.

2007-02-03T10:49:00.000-08:00

The Last Fortnight.

The last couple of weeks seemed to have flown by. Changes are afoot and I'm pretty mellow right now (that could change of course).
I'm still working with the insurance people over my personal property losses. The city might quibble with me over some items, but I have made it clear that they'll get a fight if try.
I realized I was at a low boil these last few weeks.
Finding out that my roommates were moving out of the house was a bummer. I was looking towards things going back to 'normal', but I guess that just will not be the case! However, my beloved Tess offered me a place at her house. We thought about it and decided that there's no reason it wouldn't work, so hopefully, I'll be moving there in the next week or so.
Other than that, I'm slowly getting back into my groove. Last night, a bunch of us went to see Adam's excellent jazz/pop band Cytosoul at Egan's Jam House in Ballard. I'm going to Bremerton tonight, to visit some friends. I'm not sure where I'll watch the SuperBowl...or even if I'll watch it at all.
I got tickets for Sparklehorse's show at the Showbox on Valentine's Day. I'm probably going to see Ted Leo in April and Low in June too. Already the spring/summer is shaping up.
I guess I'm feeling guardedly optimistic.

I hope I'm right!

Update.

2007-01-24T00:29:00.000-08:00

Update

I'm really getting sick of thinking about it, but it's hopefully a resolution will come soon.
The insurance folks are submitting my claim to the city for approval. They think I'll get close to what I asked for, the only sticking point being the 400+ cassette tapes I lost.
I hear a new furnace and water heater are in at the house, but nothing has been done in the basement.
Ryan panicked and decided to move into a new place. Jason's decided to move in with his girlfriend, so I can either try and eventually recruit others to move in -- or bail myself.
I thought I could move back there and be content, but the place feels defiled somehow. I haven't talked to the landlord, but I doubt he'd give me any kind of break to finish out the lease -- with his insurance policy, he'll get compensated one way or another -- though I doubt the rent won't be going up.
So...I'm going to have to start looking for a new place to live.
It seems that for every step I take forward, I take a half-step back. If I wasn't focused on a happier future, I'd be seriously wallowing in depression right now. But that's not my way. I have to keep my eyes on the light at the end of the tunnel and move forward. It's the only way I'm gonna get through this without killing myself (or someone else).
While others have certainly been through worse, the last few months have been tough. But in every crisis, there's opportunity. In every trial, a chance to learn.
Te Shan wrote: "Just have no mind on things and no things on mind, and you will be naturally be empty and spiritual, tranquil and sublime."

I'm workin' on it, dude.

Fargen Egg...

2006-12-27T00:42:00.000-08:00

Fargen Egg...

I stopped by the house yesterday. There were signs that my roommates had stopped in over the weekend, but it otherwise it sat cold, dark and empty when I arrived. I've noticed that some of my neighbors have large storage containers out front.
Jason and I met with an adjuster at the PSU trailer last week. They told us we should be receiving a letter telling us who we'd be working with to settle our claim soon, with an initial payment (he wasn't sure of the size) coming sometime soon.
The last time I was there, I went downstairs and they'd removed all of our flotsam and jetsam, the carpets and half of the walls, giving my previously warm, cozy basement all the charm of a unfinished cellar! I took some cameraphone pics. It's going to weird living there again.
Frito and Cindy have been great. Of course, I lived here before I moved out in 2004 with Laura (I'll never make that mistake again!) so I feel right at home, though all my stuff is elsewhere.
Staying in the basement isn't so bad -- I got access to cable and Frito's computer, but I really can't wait to get all my stuff together. I feel rootless and out-of-sorts, yet other parts of my life and excellent!
I can't say for sure that 2007 will be a blast, but it can only get better now, right?
Aside from all the flood stuff, the holidays went OK. I don't really celebrate them, so I didn't have anyone to disappoint AND I didn't have the pressure of trying to please anyone else. Going from Jehovah's Witness to Agnostic was a decent transition, for what that's worth. I suppose I'll make NYE plans at some point, but I'm effin' broke and payday isn't until next month, so it'll low-key.
I'd like to give a big up to all the people who've offered assistance, condolences and encouragement over the last couple of weeks: Tess, Tim, Jay, Stu, Rachel, Matt, Rob, Rebecca, Cole, Angie, Patty, Oani, Scott, Cindy, Neil, Kathleen, Renee, Sean and Maria.
It's not over yet, but there's some light at the end of the tunnel. I suppose I'll know more once we get past the holidays and settle into The Doldrums.

In the meantime, I'm going to keep listening to "Dick in a Box" and trying to maintain.

Aight, then.

Jeez.

2006-12-15T15:28:00.000-08:00

Jeez.

Sometimes I have the most rotten luck.

There was a Seahawks game yesterday. Apparently, this causes enough concern at my job that folks actually start planning to leave work early. I figured it was no big deal, until I saw the weather report.
A big storm was on the way, with gusts up to 70MPH. I'd ridden my motorcycle into work...partly for autonomy in choosing when I could leave and partly 'cause I fuckin' hate taking the bus. It was a pretty rough day at work anyway, 'cause the company prez was in town and we'd been out late the night before drinkin', playing pool and hanging out with him.
I actually got to work first yesterday, but after a nice lunch, I was nodding off at my desk (much to Cole's amusement) while searching through 80 pages of results looking for an FTP error.
I packed it in around 4:30. The parking lot was already becoming a small pond and my Joe Rocket gear got soaked through in the time it took to get from Royal Brougham to Jackson Street. I don't what genius decided to schedule a weekday game to start at 5PM. but I'd sure like to kick his ass!

I was running low on gas and soaked through when I got near home. The huge storm drainage project they've been working on all summer was completely flooded. I had to ride on the sidewalks to avoid the deep puddles on my street. As I rode down my block, I wondered why most of my neighbors were standing around outside. After I got off my bike, a lady ran past me and asked if my basement was flooding. I told her I didn't know and ran around the side of the house to discover a huge lake.
I live in valley. My block isn't the lowest point in the valley, but it is unique in that the houses surround a bowl-like depression that makes up our back yard. During heavy rains, that depression starts to fill up with water. Last year, the city came out and pumped it all out before it could cause any serious problems.
Several months ago. The city knocked down a couple of houses on the block south of mine and and started tearing up the street north of us. This project was designed to take care of heavy stormwater overflows...just the sort of thing that happened last night. Unfortunately, it didn't do what it was supposed to.
I entered my house to the sound of trickling water. As I headed down to the basement, I was greeted by brownish water that covered my waterproof boots. I didn't know if I could get an electric shock, so I turned around and started making phone calls. By the time the water stopped coming in, it's would be 3 feet high. The landlord came by, took a look and bailed. Said he was going to call the city.

I was too astounded by what had happened to get too upset. I called Frito and rode out to his place. Shortly after arriving there, the power went for the whole Rainier Valley. So we lit some candles and went to bed.
We went back to my place this afternoon. The city had pumped out the backyards. All the water was gone from my basement, although the carpet was ruined. What did I lose? Too depressing to recount right now...maybe in a day or two.

There's supposed to be an emergency claims van in the 'hood tomorrow. I've got to fill out a claims form...that should be fun.

I'm gonna get drunk tonight.

Casino Royale

2006-12-11T23:47:00.000-08:00

Casino Royale

Just saw the new Bond flick. SPOILER ALERT!!

My take.

I totally enjoyed the movie. I thought Daniel Craig did a really good job, given that the Bond character is really pretty flat.
None of the other movies really tried or even cared to examine what made Bond tick, but instead he was this superhuman badass who never suffered a scratch or displayed any emotion. Bond never seemed particularly patriotic either, which is strange when you compare him with say, Rambo or Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan. Saving the world seemed just like a side effect of all the cars, travel and sex.
We get a little insight when he and Vesper are probing each other's defenses on the train. The unfortunate thing about 'romance' in a Bond flick is that we know the chick will either betray our hero or wind as worm food. Kinda like every woman Ponch dated on CHiPs.
To tell the truth, I didn't really care much for Vesper...she was just as blank as Bond and basically I just kept waiting for the other shoe (her croaking) to drop.
I was a little annoyed that villain was so disposed of so easily. Le Chiffre was a cream puff who probably would've gotten his ass kicked in a fair fight but it would've made a much more interesting story if, after to losing all his money to Bond, the CIA botched the retrieval and Bond would've had to chase him and fight off the CIA and all the people that Le Chiffre owed money to. Instead, they wasted a bunch of time with the chase scene in the beginning...which should have been the ending!
If Bond need to get into trouble at the beginning of the movie, getting arrested after saving the plane could've done the trick.
I admit I liked the fight scenes. Killing someone with your bare hands is hard. Two motivated people in fight should be really fuckin' bloody. And the lack of death rays, secret bases with armies of minions was totally cool.

I can't wait for the next movie, I hope there's more ass-kicking, less romance, better villains and just a tad more spying. Jay says is favorite part is when Bond has to call in the Royal Marines for back up and there's a huge battle...hum, they could keep that too, I guess.

Update...

2006-12-04T02:52:00.000-08:00

Update...

The new job is going quite well. It took a few days to get my email set up and now I will taking on more and more of Cole's duties and figuring ways to simplify and arrange things to my liking.
I really like the atmosphere, it's just the four of us. The boss lady knows how to crack the whip, but then she also likes to have fun. I'm gonna be meeting some key people over the next few weeks...I have until the end of the month before Cole leaves and Rebecca and I completely take over his duties. I'm really excited!

There was a Toy Run down in Olympia this weekend. Rebecca, a woman I know from a motorcycle board I belong to, sent out an invite and since I'd never been on a run (or to South Puget Sound on my bike before) I really wanted to go. I got all geared up and hit the highway around 11AM Saturday. The ride down was pretty uneventful, but cold, even though I was wearing two pairs of gloves!
I found the the South Sound Center easily enough. I didn't bring a toy, so I paid the $10 entry fee and got lined up. One half of the parking lot was full of bikes, mostly Harley's and it seemed everyone had on leathers. I felt a bit out of place with my Joe Rocket suit, full face helmet and Kawasaki, but I didn't let it phase me. I'm the one paying for and riding this bike, if you don't like it -- bite me!

I found Rebecca and her friend Doug and we chatted a bit before the 1PM ride time. The local paper said there were something like 72oo riders! It didn't seem like that many, but it did take something like 20 minutes just to get all of us out of the parking lot! As we rolled through town, people stood on the sidewalks and waved. The sun peeking through the haze and the roar of bikes and the close formation made for an exhilerating experience! The ride was fairly short, though. We got to a park near the State Capitol building (a lovely scene) and parked our bikes on both sides of the street. I met up with Rebecca and Doug again, the toys were collected and we spent an hour or so looking at rides. Most of the bikes I saw were fairly new Harley Electra-Glides, Springers, Road Kings, etc. but there was a couple of old Indians, Gilroy Indians and a really cool bobber built around a Yamaha mill.

Doug left after awhile and Rebecca and I spent the rest of the evening bar-hopping an drinking. I crashed at her place, got up had some coffee and watched a bit of football and rode home Sunday afternoon. There was a Motorcycle show this weekend, but I was too beat to go!

This week, my band has a gig at The Comet Tavern on Thursday. Come down if you can make it! We'll bring the rawk!

Back in the Saddle! Where we Goin?

2006-11-27T02:39:00.000-08:00

Man, it's late. But I feel good! I haven't updated my blog in a long time but after I got laid off on September 6 and Mel went back to Denver a week and a half later -- I did a lot of soul searching.
I always wanted to write about what I was DOING, not so much about my transient THOUGHTS or FEELINGS. It's less embarrassing that way.
I occasionally enjoy a good funk, but wallowing in self-pity isn't my style. And if anyone really wants to know what's up with me, all they have to do is ask. I try to be as honest as possible..as long as that doesn't render me completely tactless.
Sometimes, it's just better to wait until things calm down a bit and write with a little perspective.
Somehow the SAD wasn't so bad this year. I'm guessing it's because I'm comfortable here in the house and this summer was so excellent that it didn't feel like I was cheated when the season turned.
I've been employed in some form since I left high school 21 years ago. Time off is a good thing, but broke, frustrated and stir-crazy? Not so good.
My friends were really great during this time, taking me to the movies, or inviting me over to hang out, or taking me out for drinks.
I'll soon be starting a new job. It feels like the first day of school all over again. I'll have to get to know my new co-workers and find out if my new boss is as cool as she seems to be (I have a feeling she is). Mad props to Matt F. for giving me a lead to pursue!
I missed the interactions -- the folks I saw on the bus and the street everyday, rockin' out and discussing politics with Johnny 2X, geek stuff with the boys in the color room.
It's a lousy time of year to be unemployed, with everyone worried about budgets and the distractions of the holidays. One company called me back 3 times, but could never seem to hook me up with the person that I really needed to talk to -- the woman who'd be my boss. They were pretty unprofessional about it, too. I'm going to enjoy telling them (as nicely as possible, of course) that I'm employed elsewhere!
After years of treading water, I feel like I'll finally be moving forward again. And, I have a plan for 2007 -- with goals and shit! Of course, there's no way to predict the future, but it's nice to feel proactive and not just let things happen. Perhaps that goes against keeping a Wu-wei mind, but then, maybe not...
Hopefully, I'll be able to get some work done on my GPZ and get to enjoy riding it this spring and summer. And my Drifter could use some attention. It's a great bike and hasn't given me any trouble at all, except for the flat tire I got in September.
It's starting to get really cold now, so some things will have to wait, which is fine. It'll give me a chance to figure out what my plan of attack (bike-wise) will be.
I'd like to add that Thanksgiving this year was really awesome! I had dinner with Frito, Cindy, their poker buddy Quinn and his girlfriend Emily. I made the mashed potatoes.
The next night was the 10th Orphan's Thanksgiving at Tess' place. I baked two buttermilk pies (I'd never had one before and it just sounded good. And it's an easy recipe) and went with Oani and her fella Dean. Everyone made their specialties and my buddy Jay was able to attend for the first time. He brought a very good selection of liquor which made several folks quite happy.
I don't know why, but I practiced moderation both nights, at least with the food. The pie was a success, I didn't eat any -- I wanted some of the huge caramel apple pie Tess' next door neighbor gave us!
Frito and I got good and ripped on Friday. After we left Tess' we went to The Bad JuJu lounge to check out The Coconut Coolouts, a up and coming local band led by the former singer of Charming Snakes. Maybe I'm getting too old, but the hipster kids there were annoying as fuck. And the band indulged themselves in too much onstage banter, which killed the momentum of the show...ah well.
My band, Blue Star Creeper played The Skylark in West Seattle the following night. I was not as prepared to play as I would've liked to have been, but unlike last time (which was pretty poor, IMO) I kinda knew what to expect. There were four bands on the bill and we went on third. I had enough beer to get me loose but not sloppy. I just concentrated on playing as solidly as possible.
And it worked! I flubbed some notes but our tone is pretty dark and that makes us sound so heavy that it seemed to mask my mistakes.
After the show several people told me I'd done an excellent job...and the sound guy told me some woman wanted to meet me. I think Vicky's sister was merely egging her on, but she was nice.
Louise and her friend (Craig?) showed up. Weez said she really liked us and sent me a picture of the two of us from her party this summer.

It's good to be alive!

And So...

2006-10-04T18:53:00.000-07:00

And So...

Dan "The Man" Corcoran, my former roommate, bon viveur, Main Whig, Freak of the Desert, AKA Hellvis, made it on the cover of this weeks Stranger...

It was only a matter of time.

As he put it:

"All it takes is a wig and big mouse hand and I'm on the cover. Okay, add a silver bodysuit and some nice shades (thanks Liam). Oh, and a (probably empty by then) flask...

Who is the Man with the biggest Hand?

All those ladies at the party thought they were soooooo sexy in their "visible lingerie", and it's the freak with the mickey mouse hand and flask of whiskey that gets the money shot!!

heh.

ps.
props to my hombre Phil "philthy sanchez" in the background..."

This Webcomic...

2006-09-27T19:46:00.000-07:00

This Webcomic...

Made me snort water out my nose!

Saturday/Sunday

2006-09-25T23:22:00.000-07:00

Saturday/Sunday

I met up with Oani and her beau Dean at the Crocodile Cafe. We'd missed the opening act, but Oani said Johnny Sonic sucked anyway. The show wasn't sold out, but it was freakin' packed!
I got a couple of beers and tequila shot while Stu was parking the car. I handed him one as he came in and we left our coats with Oan (she's still recovering from a torn Achilles Tendon and was sitting with friends at a table near the door) and headed into the crowd.

The Cherry Poppin' Daddies came on soon after... the drummer and two of the horn players were new and everyone else looked looked just a little older. 'Cause we are!
Dana's rockin' a shaved head and Steve's got a bald patch in the back. There were a lot of kids in swing gear and during the show some dancing broke out.
They ripped through a set that was pretty evenly split between all of their records. The band wasn't as tight as they were back in the day. (I saw my first CPD show in 1990!) They didn't play a lot of my favorites play but with an encore there was about an hour and half of music. I hadn't seen the band in several years, probably since '97 or so and I thought they were finished, so I was quite happy!
I bought a replacement copy of Rapid City Muscle Car and said 'hello' to Steve and Dana. They were gracious enough to pretend they remembered me.
We were out of there by 12:30 or so...it was a great night.

But what happened after was even better.

I had $5 left and I was hungry, so I insisted we go to Dick's. I'm usually flexible on food, but it was almost like I was being compelled to go. We showed up and got some grub and as we were sitting in the car, some people crossed in front of us. Coworkers from my PDI days, Dave C. and his girlfriend Gretchen! I pointed at them and they waved and got in their car to eat. Then some more people crossed in front of the car. One of them was a buxom blond.

We finished our grub and Stu took our trash to the garbage can. But as Stu was getting back in the car, I looked up and the buxom blond was staring down through the window at me, mouth agape.

It was Heather.

I met Heather in 1988, when she was 19. We got to be pretty close friends, both in and out of work. She left the company before I did, but we kept in touch through the years, seeing each other every great once-in-awhile until about 1997, when she moved and changed her number.

I got out of the car and we hugged hard. I was so flabbergasted, all I could do was laugh for joy!
I'd been thinking about her for years! I'd done online searches for her, even procured an address at one time, but didn't do anything about it 'cause I didn't want to skeeve her out.
I'd even given serious thought to hiring a private eye to find her...and just like that, there she was! I couldn't believe my eyes!

She'd been out drinking and dancing with her friends and she had to go, but she gave me her number and made me promise to call her the next day. She also told me that she could be found on MySpace...I informed that I could be too! Heather looked pretty much the same. She told me that she'd been married and divorced and that she'd had a second child.

So I got home last night and started looking for her online. I did a search via MySpace and found out that there were 201 Heathers within 50 miles of my house. I remembered that my Heather is a few years younger than me...so I started skipping all those under 35, though I did have to check anyone who put '99 years old' in the age bracket.
I spent about a hour looking and about 180 profiles in, I found hers. Wow...that close.

I went to bed and hoped she was serious when she said she wanted to meet the next day.

Around noon, I called her. She was really excited to hear from me, though she was hungover! She wanted to meet at 2, so I blew off everyone else and she picked me up at the Pike Place Market. We were both hungry, so I suggested the Twilight Exit.
I'd been contemplating what I'd do when we got together...I was a bit nervous, but it was a little surreal too. Over the last couple of weeks, I've been questioning myself, my life and what I'm doing with it, while wondering where the next 20 years would find me...and if I'd be OK with that. And the Daddies show had touched off a wave of nostalgia as well. But I've felt compelled to do certain things lately and I'm trying hard not to let moments of self-doubt undermine me.

So we ordered bacon cheeseburgers and got caught up. She told me the harrowing details of her marriage and and divorce. She says she's a stronger and more confident person now and she LOVES her daughter...so in a way, it was worth it. I told her about some of the things I'd done over the last nine years. We kept an eye on the Seahawks vs. Giants game.
After awhile, she suggested we go somewhere else. So we drove down to the Arboretum and found a nice quiet spot to sit and talk and watch the ducks swim by. She told me about her kids and we discussed people and events I had not thought of in years. It was like we'd just picked up where we left off. She still has the ability to surprise me with the things she says.

We were both a little weirded out by our reunion...she'd posted a bit on nostalgia on her MS page recently. She said that she'd been surrounding herself with strong women in the wake of the divorce, but felt she needed male friends in her life again...because she didn't want to become bitter. No sooner than she'd voiced that to her aunt, a guy she used to work with had gotten in touch with her.
And then she ran into me!
Around 6PM, she brought me home, I gave her the tour of the 'stead and introduced her to Jason.
We hugged and promised to never lose track of each other again. She added me on MySpace and...I guess we'll see what happens next.

I've been grinning (even more than usual) all day.

What other great mystery will be solved?

Last Night....

2006-09-23T18:13:00.000-07:00

Last Night

I went to a party put on by the Degenerate Art Ensemble.
They're a local band/art/performance group. The idea was that it was the first day or school at Degenerate Catholic High School. They had cheerleaders, priests and nuns, school counselors, a marching band (that played klezmer music!) and performances by Ensamble members and various affiliated groups and musicians.

Stu played with Seattle School (which grew out of the Young Composers Collective and produced the Iron Composer series) and members of Klaang! an improve percussion group he sometimes does performs with.

In between the music acts there were appearances by the Principal, "Mr. Hardman" and various faculty members and teachers. They also played musical chairs (Pure chaos!) and Speed Spelling Bee, in which you could buy a ticket to become a contestant. Participants were paired up and had to slug a shot of rotgut whiskey and spell as many words as given to them in a minute.

There was also the aerialists (the DHS gymnastic team) and you could pay to have people thrown into 'detention' for various fake offenses...where they'd get spanked with a ruler...and a concession stand that sold candy, fish crackers and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Outside they had a fake living room with a working TV and VCR. And a dunk tank where you could dunk marching band members or faculty...$5 for three tries.

Once people got drunk, things got more and more surreal...there was this really tall, pretty girl, wasted or high on something that kept crashing into people, dancing and falling down and climbing on things...it was like she was indestructible! She came out of the porta potty with her skirt hiked up above her waist (most of the women there were dressed like Catholic schoolgirls) and stood there for several minutes before someone reminded her to pull it back down.

We left at two, but Weez was drunk so Tyrone drove her home while Stu and I followed...what a day! Tomorrow I go to see the Cherry Poppin' Daddies!

The Way It's Been Lately

2006-09-22T17:31:00.000-07:00

The Way It's Been Lately

So I rolled out of bed this morning at the behest of Keisha, who's meowing incessantly at me. I was up late the night before websurfing and reading (finished "The Moor's Last Sigh" and started Palahniuk's "Diary"). Since Jason's out of town, I figured Keisha was out of food, so I groggily made my way upstairs check her bowl. On my way past the bathroom (where everybody in this household goes poo) I notice that Ryan has moved the catbox outside.
Keisha's dish is almost empty so I filedl it and changed her water. But she's not interested in food, she wanted outside. So I let her out.

I returned to my room, where I briefly consider going back to bed, but I'm awake now. I sometimes use the game "Bejeweled" as an alertness test, so I play a couple of games and get my highest score ever (165500)! I'm awake enough to drive, I reckoned.
The weather was looking kinda iffy, but it seemed to be clearing up. Lately, I've had a Craving for baked goods. Today, I wanted nothing more than a mocha and a bigass chocolate chip cookie. So I get showered an dressed, throw my book in a messanger bag and head off to find "Flour," a bakery that supposed to be somewhere around 60th and Phinney. As I was leaving, Keisha ran into the house.
I rode out to the intersection and don't see anything resembling a bakery...so I turned around, gassed up a nearby filling station and figured I'd head to Candles, a nice little coffee joint not far from where I used to live with Laura.

It wasn't crowded at all, being that it wase around 2PM. I ordered a Black Forest Ham sandwich on sourdough, their special Orange Brandy Latte and a huge chocolate chip cookie. As I ate, I leafed through an issue of Time magazine and evesdroped on the conversations around me. It had turned into a warm, pleasant day.
After finishing off my food, I pack up and head out. As I sat on my bike, I notice the seat is a bit lower than I remembered...weird. Ah, shit! The tire's flat!
As I was texting Melanie, calling Tracy and Tess and swearing under my breath, this young fella comes over and asks me if I need help. Something about the guy seems off and I didn't see him pull up in a flatbed truck, so I tell him no.
I called Lake City Powersports and asked 'em if they can fix it, but they tell me that it's too late in the day for anyone to work on it now. So since it's easier to get home from where I was, I decided to come out early tomorrow and have the bike towed then. This is going to cost me some dough! I'll be lucky if it's only $250...I'm pissed, but it could've happened at any time...and at least I wasn't bombing down the road at 50+ mph like the last time I got a flat!

I go to catch a bus home. But since school just let out, the first bus is crowded with rowdy school kids. I let that one pass and caught the next one. I transfered downtown and get home. I head straight to the computer room to check my messages...and I kick off my boots and socks to relax. I've already rescheduled my happy hour date with Tess and Ms. B, and I'm wondering what I should do with the rest of my evening.

I got up to get a glass of water and as I entered the hallway, my foot grazed something...wet.
Aw, no. Keisha crapped...IN MY ROOM!!
After pushing her outside, I cleaned like a madman. Then burnt some incense to kill the bleach smell. My plans for the evening are shot.

I hope this is bad as it gets.

The Aftermath...

2006-09-16T13:02:00.000-07:00

The Aftermath...

Melanie is back in CO and we had an amazing time. We went to Bumbershoot, Pike Place Market, The People's Republic of Fremont, visited friends in Bremerton, did the first Thursday Art Walk, wandered Broadway, visited coffee shops and pretty much spent every day together while she was here.

It was wonderful!

Mel is warm, funny, sexy, sassy and cool. It was nice to hang out with someone who loves motorcycles, music and food as much (more than?) as I do. She came up with the idea to paint my GPZ with black truck bed liner rather than flat black paint and she and I spent two days sanding and painting. Once I get the front wheel back, I'll have a really cool 'stealth bike'.
We kicked around the idea of getting married and raising Kawasaki's...but since I live in Seattle and she's in Denver AND Johnny 2X and I got laid off from work last week (not enough scanning work coming in) either something is telling me to go for it, or keeping me in place for now.
Melanie was thinking about moving here, but she just got a promotion and she's helping her family out, so she can't go either.

Thing is, she's only been gone a day and I miss her...

I'm going to visit her for her birthday in November. Maybe things will be clearer then.

Last night, my "swim buddy" Jay and I met up with Tess, Stu and Rachel, Elmer, Eugene, Scott and Cindy for my "Laid Off" party at ZigZag. I decided I was only going to have "girly" drinks: I had a Cosmo, Lemondrop, Pink Squirrel, Chinese Cocktail, Midori Sour, Grape Nehi, a shot of Herradura Silver, and a glass of Pernod.
Aside from swaying a bit when I stood up, I felt fine.
Then Jay, Eugene, Elmer and I went to Chinatown to eat.
Jay was so hammered that I wound up driving us home. Then he puked in my yard and had to crash on my couch...

Tonight I'm going to catch Jeremy Ellis at The Baltic Room. He's playing here as part of the Decibel Festival. Here's the flyer:

Then I hit the pavement looking for a job (or two). Wish me luck!

Married!!

2006-08-30T21:07:00.000-07:00

Married!!

No...not me...!
I haven't posted in awhile as the last couple of weeks were pretty busy. I guess the biggest news is that El Stu and Rachel are now husband and wife and that the wedding went swimmingly! Tyrone broke down during the ceremony and set just about everyone off...'cept me, Don and Neil 'cause we're Stone Cold P i m p s...
I took some pics with my camera phone and posted them on my Flickr page. And here are Frito's and James'. I'm hoping the 'official photos' will appear soon!
And that night I ran into Tabitha, who informed me that she got hitched the day before, although the official wedding is in Italy early next month.
Geez, what's wrong with all these people?!
Actually, I'm quite happy for my friends. They fit together well and I expect them to carry on into their dotage together.

So, now what? Well, my friend Melanie will be visiting from Colorado. She gets here on Friday. We're planning to hit Bumbershoot (Sunday looks like the best day to me) and I'm hoping I can show her a good time.

It's hard to believe the summer is almost over...and it was a good one! I wonder what next year will bring?

In the Can

2006-08-14T00:20:00.000-07:00

In The Can.

Another year older.

It was a good weekend. There were several birthdays this weekend. Renee, Tyrone, Rachel, Laurie, Richelle, Peter and I all got a year older over the last few days. On Friday I went out with Frito, Carey, Doug, Greg and Ryan to The Mercury, a local private goth/industrial club. We shot the shit and drank astonishingly cheap booze and watched the Death Babies dance. Good times.

Saturday was my more or less 'official' birthday party. A bunch of the gang met up at Barca and everyone proceeded to buy me drinks...and I drank 'em. I got a bag o' goodies from Rachel, a Johnny Hartman disc from El Stu and a copy of Fear and Loathing in America from Tess.

On Sunday, Tracy took me to Salty's on Alki (quite possibly the best brunch in the state) and we stuffed ourselves. She also hooked me up with a really nice stained glass piece she made herself, and a George Clinton disc and a denim shirt, too!

So To all my peeps who hooked me up or send along good wishes for my birthday:

Carey, Monique, Patty, Doug, Ryan, Greg, Marcia, Scott, Cindy, Richelle, Rachel, Tracy, Tess, my swim buddy Jay, Matt, Sky (thanks for the 'fruity drink' phoar!), Jerel, Melanie, Aaron, Dorinda, Tina, Laurie B. & The Metachat posse...THANK YOU!!

Fear and Loathing...?!

2006-08-10T18:58:00.000-07:00

Fear and Loathing...?!

So, we took El Stu to Las Vegas last weekend. We got to SeaTac a bit later than expected and Stu got pulled aside for a 'closer inspection' when one of his rings set off the metal detector. They told us they were about to shut the door when we finally came steaming in.
Otherwise the flight was uneventful (and nothing went wrong for once!)
We took a limo to the hotel and once we hooked up with James (on a separate flight) we went to get some food in one of the hotel restaurants.
I won't bore you with all the details, but we spent most of the time there wandering around, gambling a bit (James and Frito played poker - I played slots) and we took in a show (La Femme) and went to the obligatory strip club (yawn!).
Vegas looks a bit different than the last time I was there, just a couple of weeks shy of ten years ago. Just like a lot of things, it's bigger and cleaner...
The week before the trip, I'd been reading a lot about the state of everything. The War(s), Peak Oil, Environmental degradation and the possible end of Civillization As We Know It and then I found myself in the place that pretty much defines "Bling," wondering just how much money I'd need to have the ultimate 'Vegas Experience'...what it'd be like to be the Great Black Whale.
Nonetheless, too much food, a cigar, the booze, the feeling of displacement and the August desert heat made me feel sluggish and dull. I'd somehow hurt my back and it hurt to breathe. And it all seemed so absurd: Here we were taking our good friend out to celebrate his marriage to one of the most beautiful, kind and sweet women I know by going to look at naked women...(don't get me wrong, I generally approve of looking at naked women...I guess it was the context...or is that the pretext?) I think managed to have a good time, but I felt mildly out-of-sorts since then. I suppose I just need more sleep!

So there you have it.

As for this weekend, I turn 39 on Sunday. We're meeting for drinks at Barca on Saturday night!
I might also be out with my wingman, Jay and the Westsiiide Posse Friday night.

BTW-Matt Blake. a friend of mine, fell off a balcony in a tequila-related incident, landing on his head! (fuck!) Anyway, he's in Harborview, heavily sedated while they try to assess the brain damage. Matt and his fiance Margaret were supposed to get married soon. So if you can take a few seconds out to send some positive vibes or a prayer their way, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

So It Begins...

2006-07-29T18:59:00.000-07:00

So It Begins...

Tonight is Stu's Seattle bachelor party. We're gonna meet and have some drinks up at the Twilight Exit, then if the fella wanna drag out somewhere they can.
One of his high school buddies got married today and he's going to the wedding, so hopefully everyone will show up around the same time.

I'm taking off now.

Next weekend is our big trip to Vegas!
Rachel got us tickets to La Femme...I think this was a way for us to see boobies -- but not too close up.

Shrewd yin, she is.