What I want, need, should, and will do this summer.

I feel like this whole year I’ve been attempting things that on the surface seem too much for me to handle but in the end, if you put your mind to something (yes, the cheesy sayings are true) and really pull your shit together, it’s easy to accomplish things.  Now, I’m talking experiences in the bigger picture… traveling the country, opening my horizons to different forms of education, friendships, relationships, the aspects of life you will hold onto forever because they mold your future…

Now, it’s summer! And I’m ready to use my creative mind to look past the more important things and start creating… I’ve had lots of things I’ve wanted to do, to make, etc… nows the time to do it. I’ll keep a list. Lists are easy to navigate. Sometimes. If you’re a good blogger. And in this case, I am not. But it’s also 2:30 AM and I am bored (productivity starts in small stages…..)

1. More abstract photography.
Now, I don’t really dig the photography medium. I used to, it was my passion, it’s a long story as to why I drifted away from it. But I’ve noticed I like making really out of the ordinary shots… sure, I could pick up a plastic camera made by Lomo to do that…but I decided to use a 35mm camera I already have (well, it is a lomo i picked up off Craigslist…the Action Sampler) and I’m turning the sucker into a medium format.
I don’t know how it will work, but basically I removed the back and just covered a piece of cardboard, a little larger than the size of the camera with a space big enough to fit a roll of 120. I’m going to make a door for the film, then loading it/advancing it will be the hard work.
There should be some sick shots though. Nice vignettes for sure. We’ll see how that works out. Working on an Oatmeal Box pinhole as well.

2. Screen printing
If I don’t accomplish it this summer, this will be the third year i’ve put this off. Either a class or just on my own, i don’t care. I really want to screen print. Problem being I have absolutely no visual arts talent so the designs themselves would be pretty shitty..or I can use premade designs… I just want to do it.

3. Get travel plans started
I’ve never had such a desire to travel the world…well, I’ve always had that yearning but the last few weeks it has been killing me. I need to study abroad, so I’m thinking next year.  Prague would be my first choice…a bit of a stretch, because of course I know absolutely no Czech. But I’d much rather experience a culture/language that I do not know at all…i know going to a Spanish speaking country would be the most practical, but since when do I of all people focus on practicality? Italy would be the second choice. Beyond that, I haven’t really thought about it.
I want to get plans for a trip to Israel put together as well. I could not handle studying there, so I think I’ll try to go with a group…but not one that is brain-washing…because chances are a group like that, I’d have very different opinions in regards to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. I could talk for hours about that, so I will restrain.
San Francisco/New York isn’t going to happen this summer…between Florida and Mexico and working I don’t think it’d fit in well, especially because UCD starts August 11th because of the DNC. I’d rather work my ass off and have a good time with that scratch, then as class starts I’ll still have my job and save those funds for a trip over winter break. Man, wouldn’t life be nice if I could just hop on a train right now?
Something about the trains…so romanticized, yet so grueling…but so beautiful… I just want to do it again.

5. Yoga
My best friend, Emma, and I have been planning to start doing Yoga since January and just haven’t gotten around to it.  I’m a very conscious person when it comes to health and I think yoga would be a positive thing for both fitness reasons and mindful reasons. When I exercise, I like it to have a positive effect on my mind rather than just my body…that’s why I really enjoy cycling. It’s a natural high.

6. Build up a bicycle
Simple enough, if funds persist. Which they probably won’t.

7. Play music
This is something else that always sounds easier/better in my head. I’ve been blowing a saxophone for like six years and I still cannot play shit. I think partly it’s because I grew completely out of my ska-obsession…I used to play with hopes to be in a ska band or some shit.  Hope for that is gone. I wish I could sing…i’m almost tempted to look into buying a moog or something ridiculous. re-teach myself keys…

8. Keep on writing
I go through phases with that… I need to do something worth reading. My writings from my trip across America are fairly cool. I’ve written some philosophical pieces in the past few months I’m happy with. But if I really want to pursue writing, because that really is my favorite form of expression and hobby… gotta keep on doing the short stories, the real life journalism, stick in some poetry….. i’m so self conscious about it but only cause that’s what i really dig.

Will add more later.

Sun, bicycles, happy Addie.

It’s seventy two degrees and I’m sitting on my front porch because I’m locked out of my house.  But, I’ve got to say, despite the surplus of bees, blogging outdoors is quite enjoyable.  

Anyone who has spent enough time in Denver to experience at least two different seasons (preferably contrasting ones) knows that the terms “sunny/rainy/snowy/winter/summer/weather report/etc.” mean absolutely nothing.  Even in the dead winter, I have been in constant denial about the forecast…C’mon, I’m a cyclist and sometimes a runner (but a lot less now).
It’s the middle of May and it’s already snowed a couple times and we’ve had days with so much wind it feels like it’s ten degrees fahrenheit.  

Of course, this does not stop me from getting on my bicycle, but it causes my rides to only be around five miles because I have no time for joy riding.  I hate days where I don’t get on my bike.  What can I say? I love my bicycle and I enjoy working out.

This morning it looked sunny out and no wind! Eli and I rode down to Saint Marks and then I realized I’ve been putting off rebuilding my hub for much too long and I hadn’t been to Scum of the Earth Bicycle Factory in much too long as well.

 

Kevin and I got the hub rebuilt with no trouble until it was time to put the front wheel back on and we had put too many bearings on one side…woops… it may be an easy job, but it’s damn tedious.  I also decided to remove my breaks for awhile (no, not to be an obnoxious cyclist who wants to drop the “Look, I’m more bad ass than you” card…at least I wear a helmet…) but just to try it out.  I always feel obligated to take advice from Eli.

Summer is getting closer and closer…I absolutely cannot wait.

Go out and enjoy the sun, please. 

Playlist to reminisce Aug07-May08

So, this year has been crazy (I think every student…whatever level…defines ‘the end of the era’ by the nine months of school and the three months of summer. Not the traditional jan-december).

Here’s a playlist in order from August until now. It’s all very good music and you should all listen to it. And if you want to get your hands on some of it, let me know.

Here Comes the Summer - the Fiery Furnaces

493 Ruth - Bomb the Music Industry!

Ghost of Corporate Future - Regina Spektor

The Angels Hung Around - Rilo Kiley

Todos Los Dolores - Devendra Banhart

Shabop Shalom - Devendra Banhart

Preface to the Stars - Light Travels Faster

Better Company (live) - Light Travels Faster

Cemetery Gates - The Smiths

This Charming Man - The Smiths

Suzanne - Leonard Cohen

Store Room - Leonard Cohen

The 1234 - The Start

Rebellion (lies) - The Arcade Fire

Exit Does Not Exist - Modest Mouse

Heart it Races - Architecture in Helsinki

Hold Music - Architecture in Helsinki

Like it Or Not - Architecture in Helsinki

Click Click Click Click - Bishop Allen

Things Are What You Make - Bishop Allen

All Night Diner - Modest Mouse

A-Punk - Vampire Weekend

The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance - Vampire Weekend

The Flowers She Sent and the Flowers She Said She Sent - The Magnetic Fields

Dancing’s Living - Kissing Party

The Chimbley Sweep - The Decemberists

Billy Liar - The Decemberists

Oh Yoko! - John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band

Postcards from Italy - Beirut

Scenic World - Beirut

All Her Favorite Fruit - Camper Van Beethoven

TIK TIK TIK - FAIRUZ

I Burn Today - Frank Black

Return of the Frog Queen - Jeremy Enigk

The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side - The Magnetic Fields

Come Back from San Francisco - The Magnetic Fields

I Think I Need a New Heart - The Magnetic Fields

Look Out Young Son - Grand Ole Party

Long Distance Drunk - Modest Mouse

The Stars are Projectors - Modest Mouse

Heretics - Andrew Bird

Spare-Ohs - Andrew Bird

For Reverend Green - Animal Collective

Fireworks - Animal Collective

Winter Wonder Land - Animal Collective

I Don’t Blame You - Cat Power

How it Ends - DeVotchKa

Reno Dekota - The Magnetic Fields

Us - Regina Spektor

Your Honor - Regina Spektor

The Good That Wont Come Out - Rilo Kiley

Paint’s Peeling - Rilo Kiley

A Better Son/Daughter - Rilo Kiley

My Generation - Spoonboy

When My Boy Walks Down the Street - The Magnetic Field

Pony Ride - The Crash

Big Ass Love - The Crash

I probably should have just done an album or two for each month. But there you have it.

As for reading material, I’m so glad I discovered John Fante. If you’re a Bukowski fan you will love it… but it’s amazing. “Ask the Dust”. I can’t wait to finish it.

So that’s that. And thanks to a quote from Robert Blake for putting a smile on my face.

Introductory to this blog

So, I write a lot. I generally keep it hand-written, but I’ve also been known to blog. Here’s another blog.

It’s just going to be a slight collection of things I enjoy. Books, bicycles, music, the city of Denver, traveling, writing, culture, film…entities that are fairly easy to be blogged about for the (slight) amusement of others.

Generally I’m going to keep it very light-hearted…not post any of that esoteric stuff for the most part.

I’ve made a goal for myself to start picking up new hobbies that fit in my realm of appreciation simplistic creativity. This will include the need for lots of pens (preferably different colors of Pigma Microns), patterned paper, fabrics, yarn/string, canvas… then I have to blow the dust off of my thirty-five mm cameras, pick up some film, and make something colorful.

All I really want to do with myself is ride bicycles and never drive a car (so far the world has compiled to that), write things…with or without substance, make pretty things, and stay in the company of great people. Oh and the biggest desire is to travel the world.

There you have it. I will keep this updated with anything from a fantastic playlist I happen to make, a book I read, an adventure I partake in, maybe bitch now and then.

(i think the only reason i have this is lack of any sort of facebook, myspace, any of that stuff……)