Random Sighting

self improvement

"Some days I make myself use the mouse with my left hand. This helps develop nuero-pathways in the right side of my brain." I hear this from my coworker in the cubicle next to mine. Though the statement sounds like douchebaggery, he's a cool guy. Maybe more surprisingly, that shit appeals to me. I love self improvement... and it's driving me insane.
I imagine using my left hand for everything - eating, writing, hand shaking, etc. And though in my mind I see myself with a huge, super-developed right brain, the over all effect isn't that great. I have food stains on my shirt, my writing looks like a child's (backward's e's and all), and meeting new people always gets off to an awkward start. People would treat me different, like I'm slow. My boss might consider firing me until she realizes having a mentally challenged man-boy probably meets some affirmative action quota.
I think a lot about all the things I could be doing to better myself. Problem is, I just about never try.

My list of things to do:
1. Guitar lessons
2. Take Spanish classes
3. Learn kung fu (or some ass kicking equivalent)
4. Write short stories, or maybe even a book
5. Turn this blog into a printed zine
6. Read non-fiction
7. Send demos out promoting my band
8. Move to Portland and go to museums with my new Portland hipster art friends
9. Read the New York Times (preferably somewhere I'll be seen doing it)
10. Work out three times a week

I wish I could just leave myself alone. If I watch much TV, I feel bad for not doing something else. I've got several great songs (I think) in my computer collecting dust, waiting for me to write and record lyrics. I've been talking about guitar lessons for over a year now. Seeing as for every thing on my list I may eventually accomplish I'll just make up two more, I'm trying to learn to relax.
"Some days I make myself use the mouse with my left hand. This helps develop nuero-pathways in the right side of my brain."
"Why don't you just learn an instrument?" my other coworker asked.

Sex, drugs, and giant soda corporations.

What happened to rock? As the world wonders who let Axl out his cell, Guns N Roses lawyers make veiled threats to sue Dr. Pepper.
In March of 2008, the soda started the promotion that every person in America could get a free Dr. Pepper if GNR put out Chinese democracy, the new album 17 years in the making, before the end of the year. Well, the album came out in November to the world's collective yawn and Dr. Pepper put a free soda coupon on their website for only 24 hours. Problem was that the site crashed with all the traffic and peeps got angry. Some people seemed to think this soda disaster was somehow Axl's fault, even though GNR had no official role in the promotion.
Now Axl is talking about suing cuz he feels Dr. Pepper needs to do right by the fans.
Well buddy, you didn't do right by this fan by showing your old, bipolar face again. Please, please leave some of my high school memories of GNR and rock in general in tact. Go back to your cardboard box under the freeway and keep your hallucinations to yourself. How did rock n roll, the musical catalyst of social rebellion, become about getting your free soda?

goodbye

Goodbye Seattle. We were just getting acquainted. I hope we can still be friends.
Things I will miss:


Unabashed hatred on your choked freeways.

Good coffee wherever you go. ------------>

That guy on 15th Ave who threatens to hug you until you give up some change.

Walking down University Ave. feeling old and out of touch.

The constant cozy sound of rain.

Taking the ferry to any of the islands (where the crazies live).

<---------------Seattle talk radio.

Cafe' Rozella.

Knowing I was walking the same streets as my grunge heroes.

night out

On saturday afternoon I found myself watching a giant pumpkin be tapped for the delicious beer that had been brewing inside. It was the pumpkin beer fest at Elysian in Capitol Hill. The drink that came out was spicy and beery. Hanging out with some people who befriended me at a show a few weeks past, I found stout after stout headed to my empty belly. So we headed for some food.
I had heard from a coworker about an art gallery/bar that was doing a going out of business shindig. Brian and Jess happened to be headed to the same thing.
I had imagined some classy, bright venue with expensive cheese and crackers. I imagined eating more than my fair portion to the point of attracting attention. Reality was this: two dark upstairs rooms where yuppies rubbed elbows with aging hipsters, nodding their heads to the club booty beats coming from the dj booth. We made the best of it though, sitting on the sidelines enjoying our conversation.
With Jess siting fatigue, Brian and I ended the evening at the weird little taco place down the street from their apartment. "What kind of meat can I get in a taco?" Attempting to make me feel stupid, the hipster behind the counter feigned confusion as he turned to peer at the menu board behind him. "Oh, I get it. Beef or lamb." Asshole. I got the beef.

characters 1

I work in a bad part of Seattle for just a little longer. Every day my co-workers and I look out our second story office windows at the people who gather across the street in front of the liquor store/Vietnamese market. Terri jokes that they are our personal live soap opera. I feel like I have come to know some of them from afar and have named them. This is the cast of characters starring in the daytime drama "White Center Plaza".

Darth Grunge.
I noticed him first in the welfare line waiting room. His hook nose and grey tangled beard are all thats visible from the hooded jacket he wears down over his eyes. He lurks in various neighborhood spots, hands folded and hood down like a homeless Jedi. His jacket is always the same but he manages to get new(ish) jeans every now and then. Always a bit cantankerous, the other cast members don't put up with him too long, especially if he's been drinking.

Anchor Face.
This chick could kill you, though she seems nice enough most of the time. Anchor Face recently settled an argument with an extra by fisticuffs. The guy, twice her height and weight, just didn't know when to stay down. He kept getting up. She kept punching him down to the concrete. Finally the cops came. Anchor Face used to hang with String Bean Jean but is now spotted primarily with boyfriend The Wandering Carpenter (see below).

String Bean Jean.
String Bean used to hang with Anchor Face and The Wandering Carpenter until the latter two hooked up. Feeling spurned, she took off for a bit. I didn't see her around for a whole month. She likely gave the straight life a go because when she turned up again she was decked out in some respectable clothes. I imagine she got Jesus and looked for work until she realized all she wanted in life was a tall can and her old friend Anchor Face.

The Wandering Carpenter.
This guy is a douche. With pontail sticking through the back of his hat The Wandering Carpenter is often seen chilling in front of the store drinking from a tall can and wiping his boogers on his overalls. I don't care for him much since he split up the dynamic duo - String Bean Jean and Anchor Face. Those two had serious potential for dominating the streets 'till he came along.

Cat Stevens.
He changed his name back from Yusuf Islam and hangs out in the neighborhood. Having been banned from the United States for consorting with terrorists, he keeps a low profile. Cat pan handles in front of the liquor store and always finds himself in the same dilema - "Tall can of Steel Reserve or save up for a new guitar. Damn I'm thirsty... but I need a new axe if I'm ever gonna record that come back album". So far he has chosen the beer... but good luck Cat.