Woke up feeling sick this morning. I guess that is what happens when you stay in a city full of a cold greyness, beer readily available for public consumption at any moment, riding all over the place on public transportation, and scavenging food after anyone and everyone you meet. My throat is sore and I have a headache. Ive had these symptoms many times before and Im sure I will conquer them once again.
I leave today for Mainz. Not a normal tourist destination, but having a friend from college who is a lot of fun, tempts and attracts me to this town. I will most likely stay until Monday and then head to Switzerland to a town of 1000 people to live and work for 10 days helping to build a backstage area for a theatre troupe in exchange for food and board. I am very excited to be in the peaceful mountain village. An escape from the big cities I have encountered thus far.
After the switzerland excursion, I will only have 6 days of my trip left. I will only have used 4 of my 8 possible days of travel with my expensively purchased eurorail pass and I will have not reached near my proposed destinations. I am very much looking into the possibility of extending my trip, however, the reality of an expensive return flight to the states looms. If I could somehow find a cheap flight back at a later date, then I would stay, considering I can already get around europe with the eurorail pass 4 more times for no cost. I am not ready to return, I have no home or job to go back to and have much more to discover in Europe.
9/30 (?) (In vondel park Amsterdam)
The trees sway in the breeze brought by the wind making music with the sun at the core, the back bone, like the drummer of a band, providing the beat for the earth to come alive, breath in the freshness of a new day. On a bicycle. over a book or smoke. while a guitar gets plucked by the happy, rasta man hoping to bring a smile to everyone coming into contact with everyone else that day.
A tree full of age and memories and stories many before me have climbed and all since. A beautiful world indeed, to do whatever you want.
You can never be lost. You end up wherever you belong. No place better than any other.
10/2 (on a train somewhere...heading to berlin perhaps)
In the empty, broken down, yet still standing vending machine full of graffiti at the train station to a new place. In the tiles of the walls in the washroomm on Platform 2. Waking up in the bed of a girl you just met on the internet the previous day. Everywhere you go, everything you do is brand new. Everything you see, touch, feel, hear is forever changing and forever new.
JN
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
No time for spellcheck. (I write long sentences)
In Amsterdam and LOVING it. This is such an incredibly beautiful city. Yesterday at the Anne Frank house (which is probably the best museum experience I know. Such an emotional time wondering how human beings did what they did and do what they do. Such a talent and honesty in the words of the once little girl.), I ran into two friends from university I hadn't seen in 4 or 5 years. What are the odds, they began their trip the same day and are heading back to the states 3 days after me. this world is awesome and life is a true pleasure to have.
Today I rented a bike and rode. and rode. and rode. and strolled through the pretty peaceful parks of this city. It was the first day of nothing but sunshine since I've been here. Lots of rain all week and I soaked up the sun just like my plant life counterparts. Played a game of basketball with 3 (non-dunking) dutchmen today as well. It was fun. I was the smallest and most american, and I showed them why Basketball in the states is the best (but we all had fun, so I guess we all are the best).
Probably heading to Berlin saturday. It's in germany. my name neuman is german. coming home party...
9/21
On a two floor train with a group of appearingly religious women, people with suitcases and humans interacting in what looks like a search for their holy destination, point and using their mouths to create sounds that somehow human beings, at some point in history, established into a system of words and sentneces, which had to be done first in order to defines such thoughts, which can be learned by multiple poeople to share ideas and thoughts within an individual's mind to be understood by another individual.
The lack of a shared language makes for dificult interaction between animals of the same species. Luckily with a basic comprehension of shared human behavior and the same preexisting instincts, along with most people's general understanding of english, the bald man with the thick beard, working the subway market handing out (selling!) croissants full of mystery to the hungover tourists, who previously scoffed at and rejected a homeless man struggling to survive his shitty life afraid of the inevitable alternative, was able to convey a message of success and aid in reaching the sought after destination, while the homeless man dragged his feet in another direction looking for some spare change.
The originators of the french language were early artists, creating beauty using human language and communication as their canvas.
Waiting for a train is a phrase that can ultimately lack meaning when productivity and growth exist within each moment. I will get on a train when that moment arrives, but for now, I am sitting and being in my mind with my thoughts spilling onto paper as an unkown culture and lifestyle is absorbed into the folds of my conscious and unconscious for growth at unscientic rate.
9/26 (i think)
Fear attracts fear. I'm not visiting. I'm living and becoming a part of another lifestyle.
A black and white dalmatian reminding of a separate and former life apart from this one and very much the same. A plastic disc offering up an equal opportunity of fun. I create all that I see and experience and interact within the rest of the shared realities present.
Coexisting in nature as the hundred year old trees offer moments of separation from the sun far off in the universe as big as our imaginations.
Today I rented a bike and rode. and rode. and rode. and strolled through the pretty peaceful parks of this city. It was the first day of nothing but sunshine since I've been here. Lots of rain all week and I soaked up the sun just like my plant life counterparts. Played a game of basketball with 3 (non-dunking) dutchmen today as well. It was fun. I was the smallest and most american, and I showed them why Basketball in the states is the best (but we all had fun, so I guess we all are the best).
Probably heading to Berlin saturday. It's in germany. my name neuman is german. coming home party...
9/21
On a two floor train with a group of appearingly religious women, people with suitcases and humans interacting in what looks like a search for their holy destination, point and using their mouths to create sounds that somehow human beings, at some point in history, established into a system of words and sentneces, which had to be done first in order to defines such thoughts, which can be learned by multiple poeople to share ideas and thoughts within an individual's mind to be understood by another individual.
The lack of a shared language makes for dificult interaction between animals of the same species. Luckily with a basic comprehension of shared human behavior and the same preexisting instincts, along with most people's general understanding of english, the bald man with the thick beard, working the subway market handing out (selling!) croissants full of mystery to the hungover tourists, who previously scoffed at and rejected a homeless man struggling to survive his shitty life afraid of the inevitable alternative, was able to convey a message of success and aid in reaching the sought after destination, while the homeless man dragged his feet in another direction looking for some spare change.
The originators of the french language were early artists, creating beauty using human language and communication as their canvas.
Waiting for a train is a phrase that can ultimately lack meaning when productivity and growth exist within each moment. I will get on a train when that moment arrives, but for now, I am sitting and being in my mind with my thoughts spilling onto paper as an unkown culture and lifestyle is absorbed into the folds of my conscious and unconscious for growth at unscientic rate.
9/26 (i think)
Fear attracts fear. I'm not visiting. I'm living and becoming a part of another lifestyle.
A black and white dalmatian reminding of a separate and former life apart from this one and very much the same. A plastic disc offering up an equal opportunity of fun. I create all that I see and experience and interact within the rest of the shared realities present.
Coexisting in nature as the hundred year old trees offer moments of separation from the sun far off in the universe as big as our imaginations.
Friday, September 24, 2010
From a cubicle with a funky keyboard(although not musically) in Paris
I'm in Paris on day 9 of my adventures overseas (however, life is just one big adventure, so its really a much larger day than previously mentioned). The trip has been incredible beyond any expectations and at the same time really what one could expect, which is to always encounter the unexpected. And even within a different culture and not understanding the language of my surroundings, I still understand people and most people withing western civilization act within the same perameters. I think I just misspelled that last word, but typing on a slightly different keyboard arrangement is frustrating and Ill simply let it go.
I'm not sure how often I will update this with the progress and updates of my experiences as I would rather be creating new experiences instead of sitting inside staring at a computer screen. However, I'm sure it will be fun for some to hear a little bit of what I have been encountering. Therefore, because I have been journaling like crazy, I will post some entries from my book of thoughts. From me to you (and whatever thought pirates in cyberspace see this), here is some of my brain from the first part of my journey...
9/17
...After a couple pints, we followed Kerri (our host for the next fez nights)'s extremely specific directions until near the end, in which we mucked it up and spent 30 minutes wandering the neighborhood and inquiring to a lot of friendly folks until we finally followed enough clues to the smiling attitudes and beautiful smell of our lovely hosts and their homecooked meal of fresh veggies, rice and bread; along with some tasty english tea to welcome us to their charming city! Great conversation of California; England, Europe; travel and a whole slew of topics knocked about for a while until eventually enough yawning persuaded us to bed. I sit in their spare bedroom to myself and couldn't be happier about life and the path Ive created for myself. With the help and inspiration of so many others in my world and my understanding of the earth and how human beings can exist, I will rest easy tonight and wake with a hunger for the unknown, knowing this is exactly where I belong.
9/18 walking enormous London and the first castle my eyes have ever seen
900 years of human history personified in concrete evidence of their life's existence in a castle like nothing Ive experienced sends vibrations through my soul like that of a virgin feeling his first touch of a young woman or a junkie on his first day with a needle. This feeling on the river Thames that I've never felt before.
9/22 Visiting the catacombs knowing Ill see dead mens bones but not to what extent
Catacombs. Deep underground down the narrow winding stairs for minutes into the former area mined for limestone, gypsum and clay where worker used candles to illuminate the darkness. Long walking down into the earth among stone, dirt, and water droplets as the temperature continues dropping underground emerges eventually upon a room full of real chill. The kind that cant be measured scientifically, but the kind that provides a sense of other worldly energy pouring out of the bones of thousands of human beings once containing life hundreds of years prior in rows after rows stacked 6-7 feet, floor to ceiling in neat rows of skulls of various size and shape decaying at different increments in the middle of arms and legs. Just as it seems to end, the rooms of skeletons continue opening into new areas with thousands of more skeletal remains as living humans gaze at from a mere feet away taking photos of these now innate objects in the earth.
9/23 sitting in the grass beneath the enormous Eiffel Tower
Eating homemade granola to stifle an appetite starved of consistent consumption of any real value, only consistently indulging in water and alcohol. Granola with extra nutritional value existing in the love and positivity from the mothers hands and heart providing the helpful bonus in each brave new world of the sons journey and postponing the spending of a depleting source of currency.
Thats all for now. We take a train tomorrow to the new country and city of Amsterdam, Netherlands!
jn
I'm not sure how often I will update this with the progress and updates of my experiences as I would rather be creating new experiences instead of sitting inside staring at a computer screen. However, I'm sure it will be fun for some to hear a little bit of what I have been encountering. Therefore, because I have been journaling like crazy, I will post some entries from my book of thoughts. From me to you (and whatever thought pirates in cyberspace see this), here is some of my brain from the first part of my journey...
9/17
...After a couple pints, we followed Kerri (our host for the next fez nights)'s extremely specific directions until near the end, in which we mucked it up and spent 30 minutes wandering the neighborhood and inquiring to a lot of friendly folks until we finally followed enough clues to the smiling attitudes and beautiful smell of our lovely hosts and their homecooked meal of fresh veggies, rice and bread; along with some tasty english tea to welcome us to their charming city! Great conversation of California; England, Europe; travel and a whole slew of topics knocked about for a while until eventually enough yawning persuaded us to bed. I sit in their spare bedroom to myself and couldn't be happier about life and the path Ive created for myself. With the help and inspiration of so many others in my world and my understanding of the earth and how human beings can exist, I will rest easy tonight and wake with a hunger for the unknown, knowing this is exactly where I belong.
9/18 walking enormous London and the first castle my eyes have ever seen
900 years of human history personified in concrete evidence of their life's existence in a castle like nothing Ive experienced sends vibrations through my soul like that of a virgin feeling his first touch of a young woman or a junkie on his first day with a needle. This feeling on the river Thames that I've never felt before.
9/22 Visiting the catacombs knowing Ill see dead mens bones but not to what extent
Catacombs. Deep underground down the narrow winding stairs for minutes into the former area mined for limestone, gypsum and clay where worker used candles to illuminate the darkness. Long walking down into the earth among stone, dirt, and water droplets as the temperature continues dropping underground emerges eventually upon a room full of real chill. The kind that cant be measured scientifically, but the kind that provides a sense of other worldly energy pouring out of the bones of thousands of human beings once containing life hundreds of years prior in rows after rows stacked 6-7 feet, floor to ceiling in neat rows of skulls of various size and shape decaying at different increments in the middle of arms and legs. Just as it seems to end, the rooms of skeletons continue opening into new areas with thousands of more skeletal remains as living humans gaze at from a mere feet away taking photos of these now innate objects in the earth.
9/23 sitting in the grass beneath the enormous Eiffel Tower
Eating homemade granola to stifle an appetite starved of consistent consumption of any real value, only consistently indulging in water and alcohol. Granola with extra nutritional value existing in the love and positivity from the mothers hands and heart providing the helpful bonus in each brave new world of the sons journey and postponing the spending of a depleting source of currency.
Thats all for now. We take a train tomorrow to the new country and city of Amsterdam, Netherlands!
jn
Monday, March 23, 2009
Damn Dirty Hippies!
For a good year, several years ago, I was really into the music of Devendra Banhart. I think it changed after the good, but disappointing performance (at least to the expectations I had built up) at Pitchfork Music Festival. However, I really dig the whole "freak folk" movement and totally adore Joanna Newsom's unusual voice! The trailer is a bit unusual. It is great to hear and see an entire Newsom song live, however, I would have loved to get some soundbites from Devendra as well. Anyway, check it out. Hopefully it plays somewhere in LA!
The Family Jams - Trailer from kevin barker on Vimeo.
The Family Jams - Trailer from kevin barker on Vimeo.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Favorite Song of the Moment.
alela diane - white as diamonds
I cannot get over this song! Her voice is so captivating. Her high register reminds me a bit of Joanna Newsom and some other familiar female artists that I cannot quite put my finger on. The music video plays out like the great character study films I have come to love such as Old Joy, Wendy and Lucy or even to a lesser degree All the Real Girls. I love the way the song slowly adds more and more layers of vocals and instrumentation. The violin coming in toward the end is fantastic and oddly enough makes me recall an old folk punk band I used to listen to called Ballydowse. I am excited to see what this unknown singer brings us on a full album.
I cannot get over this song! Her voice is so captivating. Her high register reminds me a bit of Joanna Newsom and some other familiar female artists that I cannot quite put my finger on. The music video plays out like the great character study films I have come to love such as Old Joy, Wendy and Lucy or even to a lesser degree All the Real Girls. I love the way the song slowly adds more and more layers of vocals and instrumentation. The violin coming in toward the end is fantastic and oddly enough makes me recall an old folk punk band I used to listen to called Ballydowse. I am excited to see what this unknown singer brings us on a full album.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Top 50 Albums of 2008
Here it is. I worked long and hard on this...mostly for myself. I like to look back over the years and remember what I was listening to, and since I am constantly listening to whatever is new, I forget about a lot of albums from even only a couple years ago. Check it out and look up some of these bands. Support independent artists!
http://rateyourmusic.com/list/DirkDiggler/top_50_albums_of_2008
Check out my other lists below, including top TV shows, Films and Songs.
http://rateyourmusic.com/list/DirkDiggler/top_50_albums_of_2008
Check out my other lists below, including top TV shows, Films and Songs.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Top 50 Songs of 2008
Link to the list:
http://rateyourmusic.com/list/DirkDiggler/best_songs_of_2008
Links to Download all 50 songs:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NAIATI5Y
or
http://rapidshare.com/files/180193238/BestSongsof2008.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/180187782/BestSongsof2008.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/180179845/BestSongsof2008.part1.rar
You may have to sort by: Track Number in iTunes in order to get the tracks in the right order.
If you like the artist, support them by buying their work!
Top 50 albums list almost complete! Still re listening to a few key albums.
http://rateyourmusic.com/list/DirkDiggler/best_songs_of_2008
Links to Download all 50 songs:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NAIATI5Y
or
http://rapidshare.com/files/180193238/BestSongsof2008.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/180187782/BestSongsof2008.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/180179845/BestSongsof2008.part1.rar
You may have to sort by: Track Number in iTunes in order to get the tracks in the right order.
If you like the artist, support them by buying their work!
Top 50 albums list almost complete! Still re listening to a few key albums.
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