Friday, July 30, 2004

Back on the mainland...

I'm back. I think the best way to describe my feelings towards being back on the mainland is by using everyone's favorite internet emotional gesture :(. I enjoy the folks in these here parts, but Hawaii is Hawaii. In almost cool news, as many of you know, I missed eating next to Sir Willie Nelson in the little Mauian town of Paia by twenty frigging minutes. My mom blessed her self with the condensation left by his water glass. Oye vey.

I'm about to make my July music mix. I'll post a setlist when I'm finished.

Jesse

Thursday, July 29, 2004

prayer patrol

alright quick and important prayer request.

amanda got a call this morning and she has an interview for a teaching position at a middle school here in whitier today at 2pm. so please please pray that her interview would go well and that the position would be hers if it's the right place for her to be. a full time job for her in the fall is exactly what she has been wanting and what we need as a couple looking at marriage coming up here in september. pray warriors unite!

Campolo

I found this site called Ship of Fools awhile back. It's the first online church. There a special service today that was actually by Tony Campolo. He had some very interesting things to say about the state of America today. It was pretty good. God is officially on the internet.

spaghetti

I posted some fun pictures on my blog that you may want to check out.
i need to admit something. i'm jealous of people younger than me that are successful. in a week i'll will be turning 24. orson wells beat me. bastard. you know who it is? it's the wellses, joe nuxalls, lebron jameses, etc.etc.etc. who kill me. i'm over it.
i'm drinking nestle hot cocoa. does a body good.
lately, i've been apatheic/cut to the heart (do the math on that one). i'm all set to either: move to spain, get a real job around here, do nothing and sub, sub and write, take a poop. all bets are on. 3:1 odds on the last one.
trying not a make out, get drunk, smoke, say 'f' words, talk about girls sex parts, and buy crap. thought it might be a good idea.
lola and sylvia meow all the time and eat food. they are boring. they nap. i will smart bomb them.
there is a wilco egg on the desk.
a cork too.
and a straw.
10:1 that on Thursday Super Jesse will appear and use his super cleaning powers to vanquish filth and restore order to the Bayou. Righting the Havoc that was wrecked by his cleaning arch-nemisis, me.
peace, ya'll.
eat some donuts for Princeton U.
and while you're at it smoke that corn cob like there's no tomorrow.
There really is, but don't tell anyone, ok, holmes?
OK?!

Times Square would like to wear underwear
but it's an imposible feat.
a square wouldn't dare
because it's not fair
to the people walking on its streets.
because they like to see its wee wee.
aka pee pee.
ah, what a special nyc treat!

Wednesday, July 28, 2004

The Idiot

Hey guys, I just finished The Idiot by Dostoevsky. Good book. It was a long read, and it tied together in the end with a lot of unanswered/unanswerable questions. Jesse, glad to hear that things are going well in Hawii. The sea urchin thing is a bummer. Anyone up for a weekend camping trip in the near future?

the fall of rome

fall of rome



it's been said, and heard by many of us, those who do not understand history are doomed to repeat it.... or something to that extent. well friends i think that we are (aside from religious beliefs) looking at another sign of the end of the american civilization.

i was listening to studio 360, a program on npr, this last weekend and i heard something that got me thinking about this. let me start out by saying that this didn't really shock me perse, but it made realize that are group of friends is once again an acception to the rule.

the full text of this commentary can be found at this link. but here are some highlights from kurt anderson's piece:

We all saw the recent news stories about the big decline in the percentage of Americans who read fiction or poetry or drama. Back in 1982, a large majority of people said they read a work of literature that year. And now, just two decades later, it's less than half that.

Reading fiction – any kind of fiction, from Jackie Collins to Stephen King to Philip Roth – has officially become a minority taste in America .

What's more, this decline appears to be accelerating – nearly the entire drop occurred in just the last decade.

The new study was undertaken by the National Endowment for the Arts. And Dana Gioia, the clear-eyed poet and former businessman who runs the NEA, says what we are witnessing is “a general collapse in advanced literacy.” He calls it a “national crisis.”


check out the link and read the whole thing. it's scary. in fact here's the scariest thing in there...
The historian and author Kevin Starr was quoted in the New York Times as saying that this glass looked half full to him – nearly 100 million American adults still reading poetry and fiction and drama.

In an age where we're returning to medieval-like oral culture based on television,” Professor Starr said, “I think that's pretty impressive.”


Sunday, July 25, 2004

Things in my foot...

Hi again...

     I am sitting in Poppo and Grandma's condo.  We just finished eating and watching some ESPN.  Bed is on the horizon, as we are going snorkeling very early tomorrow.  I went surfing this afternoon and jogging with Robyn.  I got her some running shoes for her birthday.  We went to a luau last night.  A man ate fire.  We ate pig.  It was fun.

    I am also recovering from stepping on a sea urchin while falling off my board.  It looked a lot nastier than it felt.  Like a porcupine.  Pictures to follow.  I tried to pee on it, but it's kind of hard to hold your foot over the toilet and pee on it (try, you'll see what I mean).  I soaked it in vinegar instead.  My mom then picked out the pieces with an unsanitary needle.  I acted like a baby and bitched and yelled at her.  Everyone made fun of me.

     The Dodgers have won 17 of 19.  Rumor has it, Randy Johnson has said he would wave his no trade to play for the Blue Crew.  Surprised By Joy is pretty fantastic.  C.S. Lewis is still a nerd.  Local Hawaiian food is very good.  Ask Sycz, he'll vouch.  See everyone Thursday.

-Jesse

Sadness

I'm going to a party to say farewell to our good friend Brent. He's going to Philly. We'll miss him. Maybe I'll take some pics and put up on the porch.

Saturday, July 24, 2004

boat

i was on a boat. it was a house and a boat. i'm amazed at the combination.

Friday, July 23, 2004

Change in plans...

Quick note...

Matt B's B-party is the same weekend but will not be in San Simeon.  Stay tuned...

Funny Buffett Puppet.

Jesse

A Century Ends. David Gray

I just bought A Century Ends. Amazing ablum. I think you especially would love it, O'Brien. Hey, I'll burn it for you as a contribution to the "O'Brien got his music stolen" collection. Anyway, the woman and I just broke up (mutual), and here is a song that I think is amazing. Don't worry, I'm not too heavy hearted over it.

Gathering Dust

I got no reason
but that I must
maybe I feel
like I've been gathering dust
I must leave this harbour for the sea
I'm too young to settle down and make a home
But I don't know where I'm wanting to be
I just know I have to be there alone

Stole my time, all my time
stole my time, for you

Pale winter sun
is beatin' the ground
why 'm I throwin' away
the best thing that I've found
My young heart's in tatters and I'm sure
that it will be a long time healing
it's so hard to see what I'm doing this for
when loneliness is all that I'm feeling

Stole my time, all my time,
spend my time, for you

chorus:
Now the wind it is blowing
blowing leaves from the trees
I've got no use knowing
that with time it'll ease
I don't know where I'm going
hope I get there soon
cos my soul is hollow
as the sorrowful moon
na na na na...

The night is raining on my weary head
Taking me back

See the sun spread its wings of gold
as the dawn unfurls
Hear the song that the moon sings
to the darkened world
Feel the fire lighting
in the bitter cold
It's like the light that shines
through the windows of your soul

to the ocean

in honor of those of us who are near the sea, or those of us (me) who dreamed about it last night, here's a fun one that jangly old gloyd will want played 24/7 in 70 years when he is in a nursing home

PIRATE LOOKS AT FORTY - jimmy buffet

Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call,
Wanted to sail upon your waters
since I was three feet tall.
You've seen it all, you've seen it all.

Watch the men who rode you,
Switch from sails to steam.
And in your belly you hold the treasure
that few have ever seen, most of them dreams,
Most of them dreams.

Yes, I am a pirate two hundred years too late.
The cannons don't thunder there's nothin' to plunder
I'm an over forty victim of fate
Arriving too late, arriving too late.

I've done a bit of smugglin'
I've run my share of grass.
I made enough money to buy Miami,
But I pissed it away so fast,
Never meant to last, never meant to last.

I have been drunk now for over two weeks,
I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks,
But I've got to stop wishin',
Got to go fishin', I'm down to rock bottom again.
Just a few friends, just a few friends.

Instrumental

I go for younger women, lived with several awhile
And though I ran away, they'll come back one day.
And still could manage a smile
It just takes awhile, just takes awhile.

Mother, mother ocean, after all these years I've found
My occupational hazard being my occupations
just not around.
I feel like I've drowned,
Gonna head uptown. 

jimmy puppet

Hey, I'm in like capri pants

Hey, I'm finally connected to the virtual porch. However, I am wondering if the conversations will be as lively without the assistance of cigarettes and beer. This will probably be better for everyone. Smoking and drinking are bad habits, and I don't mean habits in the Catholic way. I mean consistent behaviors. Goodnight.

Matt

Thursday, July 22, 2004

nerd time

hawaii



here's where jesse's internet access is wired through, even though you're probably not near the dot on the map. hope you're having fun in the isle's while i am having fun here being a nerd. aloha

Surfing is cool...

Hi from the Islands...

I finally had a good day surfing.  It was rad.  My back got red.  My arms became sore.  I ripped it up in the curl.  We went for a five mile walk today.  I am going to be purchasing Hana Bay Rum (dark) and POG for all my little porchittes.  The drink shall cure all unpleasantries of heat and dust and whatnot.

I finished Moneyball am and reading Surprised By Joy.  CS Lewis was kind of a dork growing up.  He would have liked Immigrant Song.  He has whole chapters dedicated to his little Animal world and Norse legend.  Dork extreme.

Have a nice one.

--note to all; the weekend of the 13th-15th is Matt B's bachelor party.  $5.00 each for camping, bring drink and food, san simeon, details to follow.

Someone should tell the LBC homies about our little world.  cool. out.

howdy kids

well im back in whittier after a couple of days up north at amanda's parents house. fun times, took a little detour on the way back and chilled in santa barbara and ventura for a day. drove by your house jesse and everything looked great. no broken windows or anything suspicious. it was fun. i love being able to drive into a city i have only been to a couple of times and still know how to get to where i am going. pretty quiet around here though. sycz working, the gloyd's in hawaii, dbah in northern california and the band on tour. im feeding the cats and watering the plants too. my busted up foot is doing better and my toe nail finally came off last night. i had to help it a little bit. you can all see it when you get home. sycz should be sending me photos he took of it when it was at its worste last week anytime now... cough cough. anyway hello to all those of us serving overseas and those on the road earning their $10 a day for the sake of rock and roll

Wednesday, July 21, 2004

Hi again...

Hi again.

Robyn says, "Hi!"  We are in a coffee shop listening to Bob Marley.  It smells good in here.  The coffee is very tastey on the Islands.  Probably because they tell you it's supposed to be.  I am reading Moneyball.  All should read it.  Fascinating book on baseball economics.  Rob Neyer told all that it has been optioned into a movie with Clooney playing Billy Beane.  Funny.

Let's talk about Jayson Werth for a bit.  Discuss.

Bye.

Saturday, July 17, 2004

ah hah! harbaugh in.

it works. i'm here. thoughts on ray? last album out in august says rolling stone. duet style ala j. cash. i'm in.
if hawaii was a hot dog would you eat it? i would. they're delisous.
whittier is hotter than satan's crack right now. its because the tree is gone. i told jesse that i'm no longer referring to this dwelling by it's previous name. to me it is the place-formerly-known-as-the-bayou. i sat in the hammock (which i have relocated to the only shade spot in the 90601 vicinty) and thought that with this cursed heat the falling of the tree was the christening of a new era (well, that along with many other personal [public and private] struggles that those of our order have dealt with) any suggestions for a new name. i thought {@} had a nice ring to it.

Hawaii

Day 2 in Hawaii:
 
Chill out level is at 11 on a scale of 1 to 2.  We will be surfing and snorkeling later this afternoon.  I have eaten many powdered donuts and chocolate covered macadamia nuts.  The pog is flowing and Ray Charles' rendition of Blue Hawaii is the song of the moment.  Porch thought... we have not properly eulogized brother Ray.
 
To Ray:
 
You were my first concert.  You sang for diet cola.  You were a genius.  And a real one at that.  You gave me number ten on my top ten albums of all-time with Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music.  Somebody borrowed it and did not return it.  I ask you to haunt them. 
 
Thanks-
 
Jesse
 
--I'm reading Matthew, Surprised by Joy, and some Mark Twain ramblins on Hawaii.  Twain did some fantastic ahead of his time writing in the 1850s-1900ish.  He was good.  The birth of American lit.
 
required response... thoughts on ray, twain, and chillin' out.  favorite chill out drink.. PCOG!

Friday, July 16, 2004

coming to a download near you

we may get a sneak listen of U2's new album months before it's to be released. check out this link to find out what happened.

Thursday, July 15, 2004

sycz, check this out

here's a funny article with our favorite friend from ohio...

Wednesday, July 14, 2004

Book Deals

I tried to send this catalog to Drucifer awhile ago and I wonder if he ever got it. Anyways, it's called Edward R. Hamilton bookseller, and they have the best deals on books this side of Eerie Indiana. Check out the link above.

Monday, July 12, 2004

Assault Weapons

I got an e-mail today about a petition to sign to extend the assault weapons ban after this year. It is being spread by a father of one of the kids killed in the Columbine shootings. The cool thing is that you can track the petition, so I can track who has signed the petition because of me. Make sense? Well, if you agree with me and would like to see the assault weapons ban extended, go here and sign this petition.

Sunday, July 11, 2004

empty chairs

well friends, after several hours of trying to get the damned image of the porch to post right, playing phone tag with mike and trying out two or three image hosting services, i was finally able to post a picture of our beloved porch on our virtual one. so though the band might not be in them, and though there isn't cigarette smoke wafting, or cat's meowing, it's still the porch... enjoy.

The New Mix

Hello all

It's good to be here.

(Lighting up a Camel and taking a pull of High Life)

I've had a new CD mix on my mind. It's based on secular artists doing spiritual songs. This is what I have so far.

1. I still haven't found what I'm looking for - U2
2. Given to fly - Pearl Jam
3. Salvation - the Cranberries
4. Come on up to the house - Tom Waits
5. Astral weeks - Van Morrison
6. Jesus, I/Mary star of the sea - Zwan
7. Personal Jesus - Depeche Mode
8. Airline to Heaven - Wilco;Billy Bragg
9. Turn turn turn - the Byrds
10. Forever Young - Dylan
11. Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum

I know there has to be more songs out there. Let's hear some suggestions.

Thursday, July 08, 2004

poetry schmoetry

so i've been unpacking books a lot lately, what with moving and all so i thought i would share a couple of poems with you guys that i really enjoy

The Jewel

There is this cave
In the air behind my body
That nobody is going to touch:
A cloister, a silence
Closing around a blossom of fire.
When I stand upright in the wind,
My bones turn to dark emeralds.

- James Wright

and this next poem, by billy collins you can listen to if you want to here(if you have Realplayer), or just read it below

The Best Cigarette

There are many that I miss
having sent my last one out a car window
sparking along the road one night, years ago.

The heralded one, of course:
after sex, the two glowing tips
now the lights of a single ship;
at the end of a long dinner
with more wine to come
and a smoke ring coasting into the chandelier;
or on a white beach,
holding one with fingers still wet from a swim.

How bittersweet these punctuations
of flame and gesture;
but the best were on those mornings
when I would have a little something going
in the typewriter,
the sun bright in the windows,
maybe some Berlioz on in the background.
I would go into the kitchen for coffee
and on the way back to the page,
curled in its roller,
I would light one up and feel
its dry rush mix with the dark taste of coffee.

Then I would be my own locomotive,
trailing behind me as I returned to work
little puffs of smoke,
indicators of progress,
signs of industry and thought,
the signal that told the nineteenth century
it was moving forward.
That was the best cigarette,
when I would steam into the study
full of vaporous hope
and stand there,
the big headlamp of my face
pointed down at all the words in parallel lines.

-- Billy Collins

the deep blue sea

tupelo honey


album of the day here on baliey st. is tupelo honey by van morrison. though i still prefer astral weeks as far as his albums go, sometimes you just need a little bit of honey to sweeten your day.

what are you guys listening to?

Tuesday, July 06, 2004

yo`

now it's on like a gong

Monday, July 05, 2004

my eye hurts

this is dmh. my eye hurts. i dont think i want to go home. frank and i would like to move to spain. i vote for all the not married people to become expats with us. all the married people/soon to be married people/and jesse and robyn are invited to visit us on holiday whenever you wish.
frank and i threw a stick back and forth the other day trying to hit each other. it was great fun. and i touched a shark today. i am going to go cozy up with a rum punch, my new fav drink. peace.

Sunday, July 04, 2004

brian wilson SMILE's at last

smile

though i am sure gloyd will be the most interested, this whole thing is fairly cool. considered among rock circles the best unreleased album ever created, "smile" has recently been finished nearly 40 years after the original recording session in '66

this article that i found on msnbc has a fairly glossed over, sort of awed tone to it. there's a fairly interesting press release on the official brian wilson site as well. but it looks like we'll finally get to hear it by the time i am married, because nonesuch is going to release it at the end of september. who knows, maybe with all the music connections floating around here, we might get to hear it earlier than that. i could drink to that...

Saturday, July 03, 2004

tick-tock tick..... tock?

well friends and fellow 24 fans, we are now much more akin to the ticking scene changes of our favorite television show than ever before! feast your weary blogging eyes on our very own stat tracking counter!!! (*it's just below the "archives" section on the left*)

you may say to yourself, "So what, a counter, big deal.."

but this counter is pretty sweet, drag your mouse over to it, click it, and you can check out amazing information about who is visiting this site! of course i think you have to have the password, and im the only one who has it.... but i will post some statistics when some people actually start to log in. the coolest part it that it will show a map of the world with a dot of where people are logging in from. so hopefully darren will log on soon and we can see a nice red blip glimmering up at us from way south of the border.

anyway enough g33k sp34k, im going to go make sure my cat doesn't get blownup by some errant fireworks.

Thursday, July 01, 2004

damn it

this is dmh and i had an awesome post that got delete because of the dumb connection here.