I've Got Blisters On My Fingers

What a great day for catching up with people that I haven't seen in a while! Had lunch at Islands with Mark and the Luko brothers, and in the evening met Steve at Shakespeare's Pub for a drink and some inspired yet mellow conversation. The late late evening invited Marie and me to drive up 45 minutes so that we could hang out with some cool cool heads. Kickin' it. Having a laugh. Jammin'. Boozin'...good good times.

I love playing acoustic guitar. Especially when it's in tune. And especially when playing with someone else who plays much much better than I do. You know who you are, guitar face. Now I've got blisters on my fingers and that makes me feel tough. When you get blisters from playing hard it is the same great feeling you get when your body aches after some intense physical activity for example. It's just worth it. Would do it again in a heartbeat.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Slide Away" by Oasis

REJOICE!

My good friend Joel and his wife Shelley were gifted with a baby girl today. The chosen name is Kayla Avigail. I was delighted to hear the great news! I am at a loss for words to describe the way I feel. A new life. So much history ahead of her...! It really blows my mind..the birth of a child! Too big an event for words. So I will say "congratulations!" and quit typing now...

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Living in the Moment" by Mason Jennings

Whoa! Show Me More!

FLOW - a short interactive art piece

Easy to run - an entire music video made in Flash.

Making Over Mona...Lisa, that is. Wanna give her a facelift? Go for it. Also check out her many moods.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Manteca" by Dizzy Gillespie (Kruder & Dorfmeister remix)

Unisex Single Public Restrooms

Political correctness goes too far sometimes. But just for kicks, I would like to entertain a PC question: I was thinking - how come at bars and fast food restaurants they have 2 separate single occupancy restrooms for men and women? I understand how they could have a Men's or Women's restroom with multiple toilets (like at the movie theaters for example), but when there's only one toilet (and no urinal in the Men's room), what makes the Women's restroom different from the Men's? Ladies, tell us what you got. Give it up.

On a second thought, why the hell am I even discussing this? I don't really care. Public restrooms are gross. Period. End of story.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Frontier Psychiatrist" by The Avalanches

Slowdive In A Neon Wilderness

Here's my latest experimental creation - a set of photographs I took that were inspired by the comfortably fuzzy music of Slowdive.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "When the Sun Hits" by Slowdive

The Art Of Walking

Checked out Art Walk in Little Italy. Did some serious walking and saw plenty of art. People-watching was more exciting than the art to be seen, but still, there were some pretty nice creations on display.



Standing on the corner of Beech and India, I had a momentary flashback to Art Walk 2000 when serahtonic had a blast playing several live sets in the sun. It is so hard to believe that it's been 4 years already:

BEFORE (serahtonic live, April 28th, 2000)

AFTER (sans serahtonic, April 25th, 2004)

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Out of Her Bag She Pulled a Heart" by serahtonic

Saturday Night In The Universe

Rancho Santa Fe. Dancing Queen. Mike. Crown Royal. Mark. Guacamole. Breeze. Bello. Lorin. Iron Maiden. Troy. Stone Roses. Chill. Barry Diamond.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Buena Vista" by Gomez

Friday Night In The Universe

Lemon drops. Jokes galore. Dobrovnik, Argentina, France. Camera flash. Cheers. 5 Card Stud. Shoe clock. Papa John's. The War. Chin Chin. Nazdrave. Sports. Margaritas. Oops. Onion Dip. Water. TV. Pass out. Sleep.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Battle Without Honor or Humanity" by Tomoyasu Hotei

Four Seasons, Four Moods

People's moods and behaviors synch up seamlessly and often times subconsciously with the seasonal changes in nature.

In sunny California people get depressed when the sun and breeze are lazy to come out and some clouds that came from nowhere decorate the roof of the city. God forbid some miserable drizzle makes an appearance as well! Psychiatrists will be overbooked for a week and the sale of Prozac will be off that cloudy roof. People put on boots and wear windbreakers and the local TV channel constantly runs a "Storm Watch" report. The meteorologists are busy for once, and so are CHP and the towing companies.

On a typical sunny day, however, Californians put on their t-shirts and flipflops and are generous in flashing their smiles. It's just another day similar to the other 301 sunny California days and the meteorologists might as well replay their weather forecast from the day before. CHP is now "busy" meeting their daily citation quota and then getting fat eating donuts at the nearest 7 Eleven. (pardon the cliché expression, but it holds so true - sometimes I can't have my Slurpee and sunflower seeds treat because there are 4 police cars parked in the 3 parking slots in front of 7 Eleven)

Even though we have this endless summer in California, in Marie's mind and imagination the clock of seasonal changes is ticking. And I must admit - what she has created greatly pleases my eye! Beautiful people create beautiful work. Well done, Marie, and thank you for the reminder of seasonal changes!

Krassy Can Listen To It: "L'estate - III Presto" by Antonio Vivaldi

Clear As Mud

Why is it that when you are somewhat faded, and you've had one too many drinks, and your head is a bit muddy, that you all of a sudden see everything crystal clear and everything makes sense?

Hit the Princess Pub and the Waterfront with Emo and loved every sip of it. Cheers!

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Dig For Fire" by The Pixies

Move.

Time to get fit. Have been going to the YMCA and setting my body in motion.

Feel the heart pumping and the blood flowing. Feel alive.

The TV screens with a hundred channels to flip through right in front of you on the workout machines simply rock. You can watch a Lakers game while running on a treadmill and pretend like you're one of the tall dudes on the basketball court. Or flip to the Discovery Channel and chase an antelope. Your mind and time fly and you'll be done with your workout before you know it.

Even President Bush is exercising...

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Eclipse" by Timo Maas (John Kelley Remix)

Cool Words

Korean candy bars, superheroes from Swedish comic books, sushi dishes, or names of toys made in the Czech Republic? Guess what these are and you'll win something:

Dodo
Kiki
Edo
Mimi
Koko

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Ce Matin Là" by Air

Saint Tropez, San Diego

Discovered Saint Tropez. Not the French Resort, but the cafe in the Trolley Station next to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCASD) in Downtown.

The Saint Tropez Cafe is French-owned and operated, with authentic French recipes for pastries and crepes. Delicious food, great atmosphere, free wireless. Voila!...an instant magnet for someone like me. This place will have me coming back.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Blue Rondo A La Turk" by Dave Brubeck

Page 23

Jon Hicks told me to:
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 23.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.
So here's what I got from "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown:

"The pointedness of the question made Langon uncomfortable."

Krassy Can Listen To It: "From Time to Time" by Ride

Kill Bill Vol.2

Wow! He's done it again! Quentin Tarantino entertains. He has managed to bring independent artsy flimmaking to the masses. I loved Kill Bill Vol.1 - saw it 3 times in the movie theaters when it came out. Tonight I saw Kill Bill Vol.2 and it is just as great - great cinematography, editing, plot, soundtrack, character development, etc. etc. etc. I am still digesting some of the scenes. All in all, the film is a mindtrip. A dream.

Chestit Rozhden Den, Jacob! Obicham te!

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Eple" by Röyksopp

Taxman, I Did It!

I beat the deadline. And I wasn't the last one in line. So proud of myself. Waited to the last day and the last hour, but there were other cars behind me as I drove up to the postal service pick up stands they had set up at the Midway Post Office. And all those behind me should be ashamed of their procrastination.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Lust For Life" by Iggy Pop

I Was On South Park

Last night I dreamt that I was a character on South Park. I killed Kenny. Got him off my arm finally. Here's my character:



Create Your Own South Park Character

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Chicken" by Cibo Matto

Yet Another Reason Why I Wish I Could Fly

I wish I could help:

I wish I could flap my wings and fly around the neighborhood, over the rooftops, through the trees, and land on the wire over the street where all the birdies hang out in the morning and greet me as I drive through the intersection on a green light (usually). I could even sing along to one of their tunes and then go "like, any of you birdies seen Birdie, the White Cockatiel?"

Am not being insensitive here. All jokes aside, I really hope the owners find Birdie! I really do...

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose" by James Brown

Just Photoshop It

Photoshop Wars and Mis-Adventures

Photoshop Contest

Krassy Can Listen To It: "She's So Loose" by Supergrass

Eggless In Seattle

Happy Easter, everybody!



Last day in Seattle. Wish I could stay another week. Taking it easy today trying to overcome the thought of "maybe we should have seen this or that." What we missed for sure is some rain. Considering the fact that Seattle is under the shower most of the time year round, we are lucky to visit during sunshine and blue skies.







Off to Orange county via Oakland. Then a drive back home to San Diego...

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Reason is Treason" by Kasabian

Restless In Vancouver

Took a trip up to Vancouver, Canada, with one stop in Bellingham, Washington:

En route to Vancouver. Speed limit is 100km/hr and for once it is useful to read the small gray numbers on the speedometer. The skies are blue. The pines are green. The mountain air is fresh and crisp. The road is inviting. The tourists are willing.

Vancouver is a very modern city. The downtown area shelters a big percentage of the population in what seems over a hundred similar-looking metal-and-glass skyrises. Youngsters are flocking the streets. Hip. Happening. Living in the now.



The city is restless. And so are we. We feed off the energy. We would almost blend in, if it weren't for our spinning heads, camera hanging off my neck like a drowning suicide rock, Marie with a map in hand, and me carrying a backpack with straps that "seem to cut me like a knife." Step. Move. Go.






...and when you leave the city headed south on the 99, already plan to return another day for more.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Root Down" by Beastie Boys

Sleepless In Seattle

So much to see. So much to do. Seattle has won me over. As a tourist, of course. And what tourists we are today! Took a city tour by bus that takes us sight seeing. A funny tour guy tells us stories of the past and the present that strip off layers of misconceptions, superficialities or misinformations. We see Pike's Farmers Market, the first ever Starbucks coffee house, SAM, Skid Row, Pioneer Square, Freemont, the Fisherman's area, the houseboat of Tom Hanks's character in "Sleepless in Seattle", Puget Sound, and the Space Needle. After a relaxed, fun and informative tour, Marie and I spent some time watching Jimi Hendrix documentaries as part of the Experience Music Project at the Seattle Center. Rode the monorail back to Downtown. In the evening loaded our rental car and our behinds on a ferry boat that took us into the sunset, and carried us over to Brainbridge, a small charming island where we enjoyed a nice dinner.

Being a tourist in another city inspires me to be a tourist back in the town where I live. The impressions from Seattle that will stay imprinted in my mind for a long time are, first and foremost my great companion, and secondly the vibe at Pike's Farmers Market, tulips on the sidewalks and in the hands of city dwellers, white and pink cherry blossom trees, the charming restaurants and cafes, the night silhouette of the Downtown skyscrapers, and the beautiful Green Lake Park serving as a backdrop of a busy painting with picnic folk, softball players, dog walkers and joggers. Seattle both relaxes and inspires. Similar to my girl. Similar to music. And similar to the smile on a child's face. Seattle keeps me sleepless and alive.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Foxy Lady" by Jimi Hendrix

Sleepy In Seattle

Didn't sleep last night. Drove up to Orange County at 5am and hopped on a plane to Seattle. The body is exhausted but the mind is excited. Marie and I spent the afternoon driving and walking around this incredible city. Love it, love it, love it!...








Chestit rozhden den, tati! Obicham te!

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Edge Hill" by Groove Armada

Matchstick Men

Netflix-ed Matchstick Men. Great flick. Dig it! Finally Nicholas Cage takes a role in a decent movie. Ever since he did Leaving Las Vegas, he's been in poor to mediocre movies. He had me worried for a while with his Snake Eyes, and what not. And Sam Rockwell, I've always liked him - one of the best actors out there, who's always in support roles and still waiting for a great lead role.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Bad Head" by blur

Happy Birthday, Sweetie!

You are one in Gazillion. I am truly glad to have had the privilege of sharing the last 8 years of your life. Tonight I say to you "Ole, Marie" as we dry a bottle of Mezza Corona Pinot Grigio at Ole Madrid. Chin chin! To you!

Krassy Can Listen To It: "You're Beautiful" by Mojave 3

Hey Man, Nice Shot!

10 years ago today. Flipping burgers at Jeff's listening to a mix tape that included a Nirvana song. A friend of mine called me:

"Kurt shot himself."
"Erm, what? Huh? What are you talking about?"
"Kurt Cobain! He's dead."

I was affected by the news. Could not believe my ears at first. I thought that my friend was 5 days late with his April's Fool day joke and that his "joke" wasn't that funny. Then the truth sank in and I felt anger and disappointment, sadness and pity, and emptiness and apathy...all at the same time.

How can someone be so selfish as to blow their own brains out, especially when being a parent? Yeah, Kurt doesn't owe anything to the world and to everybody that was upset about his death, but for his daughter alone, he should've stuck around and tried harder to deal with his personal problems.

What a selfish thing to do! End it all. Escape. Cure one's self from the suffering, yet inflict so much more pain to family and friends. And the concert that you played 4 months before you left us was really not that great, Kurt. For that poor performance you DO owe me, because I paid my hard-earned money to see you.

Love your music, Kurt, but you are not worthy, you selfish self-centered coward!

Today, exactly 10 years after the tragic death of that true talent from Seattle, I just booked a flight to go visit his hometown with Marie over the upcoming weekend. What a crazy coincidence! Yeah, I'll be "on a plain" and I won't complain. "Come as you are," Kurt, "endless, nameless"...but I'll "stay away" and "drain you"..."in bloom."

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Something in the Way" by Nirvana

Psychologists, Sociologists And Aspiring Writers Should Consider Becoming Hairstylists First

They cut hair, but they also interview hundreds of people every week. Sitting in the hairstylist's chair, one could feel like a celebrity being interviewed on Letterman. "So, how are things going? What have you been up to? What are your plans? What do you like to do for fun? Tell me about your job...What's most exciting about doing what you do?" Meanwhile you are sitting there like an armless manikin, hair in the corner of your mouth, and the back of your neck itching like crazy driving you bongos. The best part about getting a haircut is that minty fresh stuff they put in your hair when they shampoo you that makes your scalp feel cool and fresh like when you're sitting in the shade of a tree on a lazy afternoon in the park.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Climbatize" by Prodigy

Are Personal Views Good For Politics?

Had some friends over for dinner and Marie's great cooking inspired for some political debates. No, that's not true. It was my neighbor Dave's deed; everytime he shows up he manages to get people involved in some political discussion.

I love debates. Unless they heat up too much and people get under each other's skins. It is interesting to me - the dynamics of it all. Including myself, everyone involved wanted to show they see things right. Maybe just for the sake of it. Or maybe even just because it could be fun to take a stand and argue for it with all it takes. And on certain issues it is so easy to take a side and argue for it. It was proven to me in university when a professor could take different sides of the same issue and argue for them in a fantastic all-convincing way. The complexity of a political debate, of course, is that the truth of the matter is never black or white. There is a great vast gray area that we need to acknowledge.

One thing I have personally thought about lately, is that, as strongly as common folk might feel on certain issues, we, as regular citizens, do not have the required knowledge to make nationwide or worldwide decisions (and of course that is why we elect politicians to work full time on the issues and to make such decisions for us). Especially lately, with the whole polarization of the people on the issue of supporting or being against the war in Iraq - I hope and believe there are some smart heads in the government, not only of the US, but of the other democratic countries, that are experts in history, economics, and world politics. And as easy as it is to criticize politicians (they are such an easy target -- it is almost too easy to bash them), history proves that great heads in politics and governments have provided for the advancement of the civilized world. War is unfortunate. War is art. War is pain. War is gain. One thing I know for sure is that it takes a lifetime of learning and brainstorming to make decisions on such a grand scale as to wage a war, and what we can hope for, as citizens of a democratically elected government, is that the politicians have done their homework and will make the smart choices to lead us forward in creating a safe world for our children.

So, back to my question - are personal views good for politics. Yes and no. Again, that gray area. Yes, because they contribute spice and flavor to the recipe of the meal we are to consume after decisions have been made. No, because people have different views (pick any truly controversial issue and it is easy to see the good arguments on both sides of the fence), but in a democratic society, laws and orders are to be made on a grand scale, so as not to appease the views of the individuals, but, the views of the majority that feels the same way or shares similar beliefs.

Speaking of politicians, here's a curious bit of news: Found at Starbucks: The Pentagon's Papers

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Exterminator" by Primal Scream

Programming Language Inventor Or Serial Killer

Take the quiz - I got 7 out of 10.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Pale Blue Eyes" by The Velvet Underground

I Got A Tattoo!

Have I lost my mind? Woke up this morning and was terrified to see South Park Kenny looking at me from my left forearm! I screamed! At first I thought Marie played a joke on me and placed a temporary tattoo to mess with me. But the thing won't come off! It's a real tattoo!!! Tried to remember what I did last night, and after piecing it all together, it turns out that after getting completely wasted at a bar, I had gone down to this trashy tattoo place and asked the tattoo artist to make me a tattoo and to surprise me as to what it should be of. Have I gone mad? This is terrible...This is it - I am quitting drinking! Can anyone recommend a good place where they remove permanent tattoos?

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Two Horse Town" by Stereo MC's