The worst part of leaving Los Angeles might have to be the amount of unique cinemas to choose from a whole slew of every new film currently out, before every other city even, as well as a great diverse choice of classics from double headers to q&a's with the filmmakers. I will forever miss that about LA.
I've gotten to the point, now in my 27 years as a student of film, where I can consciously choose the films I attend based on a group of 6-8 true auteurs in the current game of filmmaking. The talented individuals who conceptualize a very purposefully designed film prior to production and the final product is a true work of art in every sense, and hopefully they entertain along the way. Mixed in with various new potential players in the field as well as some small character study films, I feel confident every movie going experience will be a positive one, pending the annoying patrons who don't understand the courtesy of not distracting those around them.
Top 3 Films of the year:
(The films I have taking up my top 3 spots are such engaging cinema in each of their own distinct ways it seems trivial to place them in some sort of order based on how well I liked them, which is tricky to gauge).
Black Swan
After rewatching Darren Aronofsky's THE FOUNTAIN last night, I realize that based on my personal taste, this filmmaker is perhaps the greatest man directing films today. His entire career is solid and each film exists as the components of an overall larger filmography showcasing the director's talents and progression.
With BLACK SWAN, he has created easily the most disturbing and frightening film of the year. I was truly scared at times and twice in the film I checked my pulse to feel it beating quickly while simultaneously out of breath. Never felt the emotional connection I prefer to have at the end of a film, but this film pulled the best acting of both Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis' careers. I love that you can see him combining themes and tones from both REQUIEM FOR A DREAM and THE WRESTLER. Aronofsky's films are topping my best of lists the last three films he made (after just finding my best of list from 2006, I see THE FOUNTAIN, another film of his was number 1). 2nd favorite scene of the year : the "Transformation" scene.
The Social Network
David Fincher, another solid filmmaker uses a very specific tone and mood for nearly all his films. THE SOCIAL NETWORK displayed a dark, intense and at times depressing mood. A film with no likeable characters usually doesn't agree with me (a strong dissenter to THE RULES OF ATTRACTION, TRAINSPOTTING and NATURAL BORN KILLERS, which are probably all solid films), so it is quite surprising how well I liked this film. The characters were very rich and realistic and this film came out in such an importantly evolving time our society has reached, in this day of being plugged into technology 24 hours a day. A film that says a lot about our current world and society.
127 Hours
After SLUMDOG MILLIONARE came out, I said to myself that Danny Boyle was probably the most talented filmmaker alive (an award I apparently just revoked and gave to Aronofsky), and after this intense fucking film, he stays at the top of his game and of hollywood. A film that takes place almost entirely with one person and one small space is so gripping and uncomfortable, and somehow finds a way to develop such a strong emotion toward the character, brilliantly played by James Franco, that I spent several minutes at the end of the film crying my eyes out. What an incredible story told in an incredibly realistic way.
THE REST
Inception
Perhaps the most entertaining MOVIE of the year. Christopher Nolan has the rare ability to be as groundbreaking and brilliant as people like PT Anderson, Aronofsky, Tarantino, etc., and also be much more accessible and mainstream. His ideas are clever and thought provoking and are told in a way that average movie goers can be intrigued and challenged. My favorite scene of the year has to be the fight scene with Joseph Gordon Levitt in the rotating hotel hallway.
City Island
Incredible performance by Andy Garcia that I was sure would win him a nomination from the academy, yet I have not heard anyone talk about this incredibly touching character study with great acting and lots of laughs and perhaps a few tears.
The Fighter
Best performance of the year comes from Christian Bale as Dicky Ward. Bale continues to blow me away not only with his choices but his transformations, both physically and wholly really. From his interviews and what we know of him, he reminds me a bit of the Bob Dylan of acting, only much more intense. One of the greatest actors of all time. This film is a great story told simply and fluidly to move with a rhythm similar to the fighting taking place.
Get Low
Cool story. Great characters played by Bill Murray and Robert Duvall. A very slowly building emotional journey.
I'm Still Here
This actually be perhaps the greatest acting of the year. I was convinced at the end of the film it was all real, even though absurd and seemingly suspect, his transformation into this down and out, fucked up human being is remarkable. Cool project. Wish it would been better received.
Toy Story 3
Pixar. Making the best films since BACK TO THE FUTURE and GHOSTBUSTERS. Films that look better than any other and appeal to all ages of all walks of life. I would hate to be unable to enjoy one of these touching stories.
Kick-Ass/The Other Guys
Both act as parodies in as much as their own unique films. One of the best scenes of the year occurs in the middle of THE OTHER GUYS where the camera pans across still frames of intense action from action to action without any of the action moving creating quite the nice 3D comic book effect. and how can you not appreciate a film that is able to give Nicolas Cage a really great comeback!
Honorable Mention:
Exit Through the Gift Shop (The year of the documentary. Through a much more accessible world, the documentary continues to gain a lot of speed and percent of the market. It's nice to see).
Catfish
Harry Brown
MicMacs
El Secreto de Sus Ojos (The Secret in Their Eyes)
(apparently already won the oscar for foreign language film last year. I thought it was 2010. Great film and story regardless.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Best Music of 2010
My ability to listen to as many albums as I did several years ago is gone. in 2009, I no longer had my own apartment or house or car and focused my energy and efforts on being in the world and traveling as opposed to sitting on my computer and listening to music. I still enjoy very much doing the latter, however, due to those things, my musical horizons have not increased as rapidly as in the past. However, this year I reached into the past and started listening to Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits. I've had fun exploring their catalogue of music and am excited to find more classic artists in 2011 as well as new music. I love music and creativity and the following are albums that I enjoyed for the past year.
1. Menomena - Mines It's great to find a band when they have one release and to see them put out quality albums with each new record. Ever since I AM THE FUN BLAME MONSTER, I had found one of the greatest, most unique albums I had ever heard and the bands following releases were good and offered something new each time. However, with the release of MINES, I feel like the band has found their best sound yet. Much of the album is reminiscent of what they've done in the past, however, on MINES, the sound is much larger and much more diverse and much more capable for aural exploration. Also, the most singsongy album of theirs to date.
2. The National - High Violet
After getting into the National with BOXER, I was certain no National album could live up to my love of that album, thus keeping me from ever looking into their back catalogue. However, with HIGH VIOLET, the National has made just as solid of an album as their last. The songs are perfect and the album is a testament to a band that puts forth all their time and energy on creating a masterpiece.
3. Damien Jurado - Saint Bartlett
I have been a DJ fan ever since I mail ordered the GATHERED IN SONG ep from an early internet site advertising the release from "Damien Jurardo." Confused about his name for some time after and catching a live performance at the cornerstone music festival in 2000, I immediately delved into his career and since have purchased every release possible from the artist. I have seen him more than I've seen any other band or artist and until getting into Bob Dylan, DJ has always been my favorite singer/songwriter/artist. After a slew of great songwriting mostly in the same vein, this year we see Jurado breaking free from a formula that has worked so well for him and pulls from new influences and has the help from producer Richard Swift for a new sound that suits Jurado well. The opening is the best album opening of the year, and of Jurado's career, reminiscent of an epic church song.
4. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Another band I have been with since their first release. I will never forget the first time I heard/saw Arcade Fire on the Conan O'Brien show and immediately going out the next day to buy FUNERAL. The album produced a sound I had never heard and was excited about music. This was an important time (2004) in my musical pilgrimage and discovery and FUNERAL was a perfect album to open my horizons. After a disappointing but still solid NEON BIBLE, the band has returned with possibly the sharpest album of their career. While not holding the pureness of FUNERAL (a record that holds a more raw power like that of IN THE AEROPLANE OVER THE SEA or even the promise ring's 30 DEGREES EVERYWHERE), THE SUBURBS is a brilliantly constructed album from start to finish that holds such a strong sense of living life in the suburbs, something I can easily relate to.
5. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
His psychological shortcomings get released in the form of being an asshole and while his rhymes are kind of, what's the word, bad, the guy knows how to produce an incredible sound.
6. Aloha - Home Acres
90's emo (ie The Promise Ring, Get Up Kids) meets 2000s experimental rock (ie. Dirty Projectors, Battles)
7. LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening
The best live music experience I have ever had was at Bonnaroo this past summer seeing Dr. Dog (which reminded me of what may be the closest thing to seeing the Beatles or a similar act in the heyday of psychedelic drug use mixed with experimental rock n roll), The Flaming Lips (the greatest live show of all time) perform THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, and then followed by LCD Soundsystem at 2 in the morning all in one day. What a beautiful day ended with a tent full of people having fun dancing to a full band performing such brilliantly produced unique songs.
8. Mimicking Birds - Mimicking Birds
Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful
9. The Tallest Man on Earth - The Wild Hunt
I cannot get enough of his voice. A great live show I saw in the summer of 2009. Great stage presence and confidence that match his songwriting and simple songs.
10. The Black Keys - Brothers
My first experience with the band who apparently has 5 other albums prior to this excellent album.
11. Baths - Cerulean
Drugs
12. MGMT - Congratulations
Better than their last album of one hit wonders. Fun and trippy. A couple of the songs actually remind me of what Everything, Now! has been doing for a long time.
13. Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid
This album is full of so many influences and styles. Very fun.
14. Toro Y Moi - Causers of This
15. Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz
Duh.
16. Arrah and the Ferns - All the Bad in One Place
Good friends with such a level of improvement and maturity over their first fun pop album. I am excited about their reunion and continual progression.
17. Tame Impala - Innerspeaker
More drugs
18. Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record
19. Avi Buffalo - Avi Buffalo
20. Phosphorescent - Here's To Taking it Easy
Country!
21. Frog Eyes - Paul's Tomb: A Triumph
22. The Books - The Way Out
23. Cowboy Angels - Rent. Vol. 1
It's the year I and many others became country apparently.
24. Wolf Parade - Expo 86
25. Ok Go - Of the Blue Colour of the Sky
Honorable Mentions: , Spoon - Transference, Surfer Blood - Astrocoast, Dr. Dog - Shame, Shame, Joanna Newsom - Have One on Me , Frog Eyes - Paul's Tomb: A Triumph
Favorite Songs from Albums not listed or not given full listens:
FRIGHTENED RABBIT - Nothing Like You
DR. DOG - Jackie Wants a Black Eye
DELPHIC - Doubt
ARIEL PINK'S HAUNTED GRAFFITI - Round and Round
FOALS - Total Life Forever
GIL SCOTT-HERON - New York is Killing Me
GORILLAZ - Stylo
THE RADIO DEPT. - Never Follow Suit
KNXWLEDGE - Kollective
MUX MOOL - Hog Knuckles
1. Menomena - Mines It's great to find a band when they have one release and to see them put out quality albums with each new record. Ever since I AM THE FUN BLAME MONSTER, I had found one of the greatest, most unique albums I had ever heard and the bands following releases were good and offered something new each time. However, with the release of MINES, I feel like the band has found their best sound yet. Much of the album is reminiscent of what they've done in the past, however, on MINES, the sound is much larger and much more diverse and much more capable for aural exploration. Also, the most singsongy album of theirs to date.
2. The National - High Violet
After getting into the National with BOXER, I was certain no National album could live up to my love of that album, thus keeping me from ever looking into their back catalogue. However, with HIGH VIOLET, the National has made just as solid of an album as their last. The songs are perfect and the album is a testament to a band that puts forth all their time and energy on creating a masterpiece.
3. Damien Jurado - Saint Bartlett
I have been a DJ fan ever since I mail ordered the GATHERED IN SONG ep from an early internet site advertising the release from "Damien Jurardo." Confused about his name for some time after and catching a live performance at the cornerstone music festival in 2000, I immediately delved into his career and since have purchased every release possible from the artist. I have seen him more than I've seen any other band or artist and until getting into Bob Dylan, DJ has always been my favorite singer/songwriter/artist. After a slew of great songwriting mostly in the same vein, this year we see Jurado breaking free from a formula that has worked so well for him and pulls from new influences and has the help from producer Richard Swift for a new sound that suits Jurado well. The opening is the best album opening of the year, and of Jurado's career, reminiscent of an epic church song.
4. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Another band I have been with since their first release. I will never forget the first time I heard/saw Arcade Fire on the Conan O'Brien show and immediately going out the next day to buy FUNERAL. The album produced a sound I had never heard and was excited about music. This was an important time (2004) in my musical pilgrimage and discovery and FUNERAL was a perfect album to open my horizons. After a disappointing but still solid NEON BIBLE, the band has returned with possibly the sharpest album of their career. While not holding the pureness of FUNERAL (a record that holds a more raw power like that of IN THE AEROPLANE OVER THE SEA or even the promise ring's 30 DEGREES EVERYWHERE), THE SUBURBS is a brilliantly constructed album from start to finish that holds such a strong sense of living life in the suburbs, something I can easily relate to.
5. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
His psychological shortcomings get released in the form of being an asshole and while his rhymes are kind of, what's the word, bad, the guy knows how to produce an incredible sound.
6. Aloha - Home Acres
90's emo (ie The Promise Ring, Get Up Kids) meets 2000s experimental rock (ie. Dirty Projectors, Battles)
7. LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening
The best live music experience I have ever had was at Bonnaroo this past summer seeing Dr. Dog (which reminded me of what may be the closest thing to seeing the Beatles or a similar act in the heyday of psychedelic drug use mixed with experimental rock n roll), The Flaming Lips (the greatest live show of all time) perform THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, and then followed by LCD Soundsystem at 2 in the morning all in one day. What a beautiful day ended with a tent full of people having fun dancing to a full band performing such brilliantly produced unique songs.
8. Mimicking Birds - Mimicking Birds
Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful
9. The Tallest Man on Earth - The Wild Hunt
I cannot get enough of his voice. A great live show I saw in the summer of 2009. Great stage presence and confidence that match his songwriting and simple songs.
10. The Black Keys - Brothers
My first experience with the band who apparently has 5 other albums prior to this excellent album.
11. Baths - Cerulean
Drugs
12. MGMT - Congratulations
Better than their last album of one hit wonders. Fun and trippy. A couple of the songs actually remind me of what Everything, Now! has been doing for a long time.
13. Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid
This album is full of so many influences and styles. Very fun.
14. Toro Y Moi - Causers of This
15. Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz
Duh.
16. Arrah and the Ferns - All the Bad in One Place
Good friends with such a level of improvement and maturity over their first fun pop album. I am excited about their reunion and continual progression.
17. Tame Impala - Innerspeaker
More drugs
18. Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record
19. Avi Buffalo - Avi Buffalo
20. Phosphorescent - Here's To Taking it Easy
Country!
21. Frog Eyes - Paul's Tomb: A Triumph
22. The Books - The Way Out
23. Cowboy Angels - Rent. Vol. 1
It's the year I and many others became country apparently.
24. Wolf Parade - Expo 86
25. Ok Go - Of the Blue Colour of the Sky
Honorable Mentions: , Spoon - Transference, Surfer Blood - Astrocoast, Dr. Dog - Shame, Shame, Joanna Newsom - Have One on Me , Frog Eyes - Paul's Tomb: A Triumph
Favorite Songs from Albums not listed or not given full listens:
FRIGHTENED RABBIT - Nothing Like You
DR. DOG - Jackie Wants a Black Eye
DELPHIC - Doubt
ARIEL PINK'S HAUNTED GRAFFITI - Round and Round
FOALS - Total Life Forever
GIL SCOTT-HERON - New York is Killing Me
GORILLAZ - Stylo
THE RADIO DEPT. - Never Follow Suit
KNXWLEDGE - Kollective
MUX MOOL - Hog Knuckles
Monday, November 8, 2010
Bonjourno from Tuscany Italy. I am on a sheep and olive farm near a small village of 200 people called Montorgaili. My hosts are a great 50 year old couple named Maurizio and Barbara. Maurizio looks like John candy doing a Robert Deniro impression. They speak in the musical sounds of this 21 character language. My days , when it isnt raining, are spent climbling trees to pluck olives for about 6 hours. We eat pasta almost every day and have been making picarino cheese from their sheep and each time we make cheese a ricotta is made for same day consumption. The food is great. There is nothing to do here, but a nice Spanish girl my age named Mar has arrived to keep me company. Some games of chess with Maurizio and lots of reading and writing have been nice. Its relaxing and therapeutic being here. The couple are extremely knowledgable about life and the world and we have constantly been sharing ideas about culture, government, politics, people, customs, food and everything else we all have the capacity of teaching and learning in this world. Two more weeks here, then I head back to the states for my first turkeyless thanksgiving and PUMPKIN, PECAN PIE and CHOCOLATE FUDGE and maybe a recipe or two to share from europa with my american family.
I have been dreaming an insane amoutn since switzerland and even more in italy. For several nights now, I have written about 2-4 long, detailed vivid dreams per night.
10/26 ( on a train leaving switzerland)
The sun is shining. My cold and rainy days are behind me. I seek the sun, but I will as I always do, react appropriately to whatever the earth sends my way. I am an open book with empty pages.
Cordoroy pants, bald head, white beard, reading a book in between glances outside, this man's mind wanders to a memory of a former life unlived.
A trip to Switzerland in perfect timing to miss much adventure and an unfortunate omission of the famous alps. It feels good however to leave such desired activities as the top of europe, canyoning interlaken, hiking in the alps and snowboarding a glacier to a future return trip.
10/29
An amazing goodbye hug at the train station and Sietske's sincere face and smile and admission of having a really really really fun time together left me with the same 30 pounds strapped to my body and an even bigger smile and thoughts of the importance of human relationships and struggling to know what I truly desire or need and other possible outcomes of spending more time with this girl. We agreed we would see more of each other in the future and I will greet that future when it becomes present with excitement.
I also enjoyed our share belief in the universe's power and mythical world full of an understanding of something bigger and beyond our control. A sweater given as a gift. The article of clothing fit for an elderly Dutch woman with ducks, hearts and apples looking and feeling so well on this young 26 year old male frame. The heart and kindness, of the 25 year old dutch girl's, of gold. I wonder if Neil Young was singing about a girl like Sietske.
10/31
The night has fallen, the wind continues to do what it does best, as the Italian wildlife roams the wet, cold grass looking for a warmth outside of my comfortable four walls with the ticking sound of moments going by, each as long or short as the last. The pages of a 6 week old notebook are filled and closed and placed on the wooden table in front of me. A new one is opened. The notebook with the fancy brand name requiring 10 euro more than its off brand brother tht filled a person's thoughts and flow of the pen just the same....
11/1
In a small sheep and olive farm in the middle of Italy, my taste buds are growing along with my soul and I am excited to share of my gained knowledge, wisdom and belly with those I love.
11/3
A lamp illuminates the room from the corner of a table. The light is bright and hot at one specific center and falls off bouncing on the white walls of the basic guest room. Bugs dance around the bulb, attracted to its heated core. The shade is yellow, enhance by the 32 degree Kelvin temperature of the light, protecting my eyes by the intensity of the Edison invention of modern virtue.
Thats all the gems for now. My notebooks are filled with my thoughts. Ones the universe gave me and I forget until reading again. They are for the world and to be shared.
I have been dreaming an insane amoutn since switzerland and even more in italy. For several nights now, I have written about 2-4 long, detailed vivid dreams per night.
10/26 ( on a train leaving switzerland)
The sun is shining. My cold and rainy days are behind me. I seek the sun, but I will as I always do, react appropriately to whatever the earth sends my way. I am an open book with empty pages.
Cordoroy pants, bald head, white beard, reading a book in between glances outside, this man's mind wanders to a memory of a former life unlived.
A trip to Switzerland in perfect timing to miss much adventure and an unfortunate omission of the famous alps. It feels good however to leave such desired activities as the top of europe, canyoning interlaken, hiking in the alps and snowboarding a glacier to a future return trip.
10/29
An amazing goodbye hug at the train station and Sietske's sincere face and smile and admission of having a really really really fun time together left me with the same 30 pounds strapped to my body and an even bigger smile and thoughts of the importance of human relationships and struggling to know what I truly desire or need and other possible outcomes of spending more time with this girl. We agreed we would see more of each other in the future and I will greet that future when it becomes present with excitement.
I also enjoyed our share belief in the universe's power and mythical world full of an understanding of something bigger and beyond our control. A sweater given as a gift. The article of clothing fit for an elderly Dutch woman with ducks, hearts and apples looking and feeling so well on this young 26 year old male frame. The heart and kindness, of the 25 year old dutch girl's, of gold. I wonder if Neil Young was singing about a girl like Sietske.
10/31
The night has fallen, the wind continues to do what it does best, as the Italian wildlife roams the wet, cold grass looking for a warmth outside of my comfortable four walls with the ticking sound of moments going by, each as long or short as the last. The pages of a 6 week old notebook are filled and closed and placed on the wooden table in front of me. A new one is opened. The notebook with the fancy brand name requiring 10 euro more than its off brand brother tht filled a person's thoughts and flow of the pen just the same....
11/1
In a small sheep and olive farm in the middle of Italy, my taste buds are growing along with my soul and I am excited to share of my gained knowledge, wisdom and belly with those I love.
11/3
A lamp illuminates the room from the corner of a table. The light is bright and hot at one specific center and falls off bouncing on the white walls of the basic guest room. Bugs dance around the bulb, attracted to its heated core. The shade is yellow, enhance by the 32 degree Kelvin temperature of the light, protecting my eyes by the intensity of the Edison invention of modern virtue.
Thats all the gems for now. My notebooks are filled with my thoughts. Ones the universe gave me and I forget until reading again. They are for the world and to be shared.
Monday, October 25, 2010
back back back
tomorrow I go back to amsterdam for a few days. Completely out of the way from my next work stop. I will visit and hang out with my ball state friends Kelly Hake and Malina in Amsterdam and revisit a Dutch couchsurfing girl before making the 20 hour train ride all the way down to italy to work on an olive farm for my last 3 weeks. Amsterdam is completely out of the way, but only geographically and only on paper. The adventures, fun and experiences will be in way with what I need.
10/20
Today, I was reminded of the incredibly crazy nature of human beings, the most insane creatures on this planet. People in a large factory making 10 different kinds of chocolate from a fruit picked and sliced with a large machete, wielded by the black skinned men in another country, yielding a bean inside. The workers, human and incredibly complex, powerful machines in an assembly line of packaging large amounts of delicious treats. The french spoken tour was confusing to comprehend, however my eyes and especially nose were able to understand the vast production of savored desserts. At the end we could sample all the vaiours chocolates to our hearts, or rather taste buds content. Luckily, I kept my stomach in mind before devouring it all.
10/23
Gypsy family playing acoustically straight to my soul in the little theatre packed full of 60 plus.
Painted all day with Miros and her french lessons.
Andi's jokes increase by the day.
A new bread, a new cheese, new dessert, new job.
Had the best lasagna I have ever had last night. More best of's from Priska.
The cold is getting to me, I am ready for Italy and her warmth in a week or so's time. Not ready for winter in the states. (note: after being in a bit of snow on the mountain yesterda, I am definitely ready for snow filled indiana with my nephews!!!)
(watching a free form jazz band)
The moon is full. The air is cold. On top of this mountain, a man stands saxophone in hand grinding his teeth, as the snare snaps, bass hits and piano races faster and faster. Waiting to be inspired for his next breath of air to flow through the instrument clutched to his chest like a new born.
The instruments are dancing. No! Now they are fighting. Just as fast as human relationships, these fickle producers of sound.
Goodbye switzerland. You have a special place in my heart, even if I didnt see your coveted alps.
10/20
Today, I was reminded of the incredibly crazy nature of human beings, the most insane creatures on this planet. People in a large factory making 10 different kinds of chocolate from a fruit picked and sliced with a large machete, wielded by the black skinned men in another country, yielding a bean inside. The workers, human and incredibly complex, powerful machines in an assembly line of packaging large amounts of delicious treats. The french spoken tour was confusing to comprehend, however my eyes and especially nose were able to understand the vast production of savored desserts. At the end we could sample all the vaiours chocolates to our hearts, or rather taste buds content. Luckily, I kept my stomach in mind before devouring it all.
10/23
Gypsy family playing acoustically straight to my soul in the little theatre packed full of 60 plus.
Painted all day with Miros and her french lessons.
Andi's jokes increase by the day.
A new bread, a new cheese, new dessert, new job.
Had the best lasagna I have ever had last night. More best of's from Priska.
The cold is getting to me, I am ready for Italy and her warmth in a week or so's time. Not ready for winter in the states. (note: after being in a bit of snow on the mountain yesterda, I am definitely ready for snow filled indiana with my nephews!!!)
(watching a free form jazz band)
The moon is full. The air is cold. On top of this mountain, a man stands saxophone in hand grinding his teeth, as the snare snaps, bass hits and piano races faster and faster. Waiting to be inspired for his next breath of air to flow through the instrument clutched to his chest like a new born.
The instruments are dancing. No! Now they are fighting. Just as fast as human relationships, these fickle producers of sound.
Goodbye switzerland. You have a special place in my heart, even if I didnt see your coveted alps.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
dream a little dream of me
Ive been having really vivid and numerous dreams every night since arriving in courtelary and sleeping in the circus van. A lot of dreams involving high school as well. Not sure what that is all about.
Finished TROPIC OF CANCER today. Started it 4 or 5 days ago and its the first I have done any reading on the trip. Felt good to be reading again. Henry Miller`s writing flows for a great poetic pace at high speed creating wonderfully worded passages. An inspiring tale of people living freely, cheaply and happily wherever they can in Paris. It feels good to finish a novel, even when the novel captivates you through and through. A bittersweet feeling of accomplishment, like climbing a mountain and overlooking the vista created by standing at the peak.
I have eaten so well since being in switzerland. It has been 10 days since I have arrived and I have consumed more and better food than I did in the first three weeks of the trip. Priska`s home cooking has been incredible. I have been on a pretty normal schedule, going to bed fairly early and always waking by 830 am to enjoy a good breakfast, usually consisting of oat flakes (which are pressed and turned, by me, from the grain through a grinder creating the flakes) for a nice bowl of hot oatmeal with raisins, almonds, pumpkin seeds, spelt or whatever else I can find in the huge assortment of add ons in the large and healthy, organic kitchen. I have been eating 3 meals a day which always consist of homemade, delicious bread, a variety of amazing cheese from the area...real swiss cheese!, peanut butter (100 percent peanuts, no added sugar like american peanut butter), and other assortment of toppings for the bread. ALl the food prepared is all veggie and all delicious. I have not had so much cheese in all my life.
From TROPIC OF CANCER:
"Do anything, but let it produce joy. Do anything, but let it yield ecstasy."
"Today I am proud to say that I am inhuman, that I belong not to men and governments, that I have nothing to do with creeds and principles. I have nothing to do with the creaking machinery of humanity -- I belong to the Earth!"
"...There is no other path to pursue. A man who belongs to this race must stand up on the high place with gibberish in his mouth and rip out his entrails."
"...to be human seems like a poor, sorry, miserable affair, limited by the senses, restricted by moralities and codes, defined by platitudes and isms.+
10/19
An incredible evening starting out playing swiss monopoly with Miros and Jerimo buying cities in Switzerland at every opportunity spending every cent I have as the prime example of the American capitalist I am. Whatever I can get my hands on. No land is off limits to America! A break took place to participate in a touching, meditative sing along at the biweekly session taking the place of usual regional visitors missing out, joining Andi playing guitar and bongo, Priska`s beautiful lead voice, and elderly yet youthful and vibrant happy go lucky woman, Royo as cheerful as always, the timid voice of Miros, the pleasantly surprising sultry voice of the Slovakian goddess, the regular cough from the down and out sick Miramo and me, the added male voice adding confidence to the world songs from gypsies, jews, swiss, english, french and elsewhere singing blessings for peace, love and pleasant days on pillows on the floor in the televisionless common room of the large home if there ever was such a place to welcome outsiders and friends as one interconnected unit through love, warmth, music, laughter and acceptance as participants of this beautiful world.
Switzerland has been good to my body, mind and soul. I will never forget this land. But for now, I have another handful of days to soak up.
Finished TROPIC OF CANCER today. Started it 4 or 5 days ago and its the first I have done any reading on the trip. Felt good to be reading again. Henry Miller`s writing flows for a great poetic pace at high speed creating wonderfully worded passages. An inspiring tale of people living freely, cheaply and happily wherever they can in Paris. It feels good to finish a novel, even when the novel captivates you through and through. A bittersweet feeling of accomplishment, like climbing a mountain and overlooking the vista created by standing at the peak.
I have eaten so well since being in switzerland. It has been 10 days since I have arrived and I have consumed more and better food than I did in the first three weeks of the trip. Priska`s home cooking has been incredible. I have been on a pretty normal schedule, going to bed fairly early and always waking by 830 am to enjoy a good breakfast, usually consisting of oat flakes (which are pressed and turned, by me, from the grain through a grinder creating the flakes) for a nice bowl of hot oatmeal with raisins, almonds, pumpkin seeds, spelt or whatever else I can find in the huge assortment of add ons in the large and healthy, organic kitchen. I have been eating 3 meals a day which always consist of homemade, delicious bread, a variety of amazing cheese from the area...real swiss cheese!, peanut butter (100 percent peanuts, no added sugar like american peanut butter), and other assortment of toppings for the bread. ALl the food prepared is all veggie and all delicious. I have not had so much cheese in all my life.
From TROPIC OF CANCER:
"Do anything, but let it produce joy. Do anything, but let it yield ecstasy."
"Today I am proud to say that I am inhuman, that I belong not to men and governments, that I have nothing to do with creeds and principles. I have nothing to do with the creaking machinery of humanity -- I belong to the Earth!"
"...There is no other path to pursue. A man who belongs to this race must stand up on the high place with gibberish in his mouth and rip out his entrails."
"...to be human seems like a poor, sorry, miserable affair, limited by the senses, restricted by moralities and codes, defined by platitudes and isms.+
10/19
An incredible evening starting out playing swiss monopoly with Miros and Jerimo buying cities in Switzerland at every opportunity spending every cent I have as the prime example of the American capitalist I am. Whatever I can get my hands on. No land is off limits to America! A break took place to participate in a touching, meditative sing along at the biweekly session taking the place of usual regional visitors missing out, joining Andi playing guitar and bongo, Priska`s beautiful lead voice, and elderly yet youthful and vibrant happy go lucky woman, Royo as cheerful as always, the timid voice of Miros, the pleasantly surprising sultry voice of the Slovakian goddess, the regular cough from the down and out sick Miramo and me, the added male voice adding confidence to the world songs from gypsies, jews, swiss, english, french and elsewhere singing blessings for peace, love and pleasant days on pillows on the floor in the televisionless common room of the large home if there ever was such a place to welcome outsiders and friends as one interconnected unit through love, warmth, music, laughter and acceptance as participants of this beautiful world.
Switzerland has been good to my body, mind and soul. I will never forget this land. But for now, I have another handful of days to soak up.
Monday, October 18, 2010
BOOYAH!
Just changed my flight to a later date. I will not be back stateside til Nov. 22 now. Seeya at thanksgiving.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Keeping warm by the fire in a circus van!
For the past few days, my home has been in a traveling (but currently stationary) circus van in the backyard of a 200 year old huge home shared by 3 families and 1 single musician with a few common areas and their own living spaces. I have been eating like a fucking king here. I work 4 hours a day mostly just mixing joint filler and applying the mixture to previously put together calk walls (?), which apparently is made from heated stone...wonder if its the same as the calk we squeeze from a tube...anyway, 4 hours of work at my own schedule for 3 meals, a bed and the beautiful jura mountains.
Today, I explored those mountains. After a delicious lunch of homemade olive cake (green olives, green peppers, tomato paste, spelt and sunflower seeds), I went on an epic 4 or 5 hour hike, barely making it back for dinner before the sky went dark. I climbed and climbed until I made it to the top, passing through a dense forest of fallen leaves providing my path amongst the array of autumn colors with towering trees all around. No other animal or person in sight until every so ofter, I would hear the bells of cows waiting in a field up ahead. I eventually made it to my destination, which priska had provided clues and a map to find. Creaux de Glace (hole of ice). I had forgotten that I was in search of a cave and only rememberd the ice part. This place was a beautiful sight that upon arriving at, I just stood in awe of. A huge hole below me that you could climb down into, so I climbed. Regretting not bringing my hiking shoes on the trip, I took hold of the chain and went down the steep rocky and muddy entrance to the dark dark cave. With my headlamp on, I made it to the bottom to find 2 large masses of ice within. A place where ice exists every day of every year. I took some time to take it in in the cool air and knew I had to head back before the darkness set in. Climbing up was a bit tricky but felt great to be climbing! Something not many humans will see, but worth every effort to get to.
10/3
New City. Berlin. New Country. Germany. New people, interactions and friendships.
10/5
3 days of nonstop drinking. Popping in and out of bars, cafes and mostly kiosks, or what I know as convenience stores, open 24 hours selling large bottles of beer for cheap, in a city where you can walk and drink wherever you please. Beer, absinthe, and wine makes for a late start to any day in Berlin, where the life doesnt wake til the sun goes down over the grey, dreary buildings and streets of alternative people, hippies, yuppies, gutter punks, hipsters, poets and arists of all types.
Weighed myself today, 60 kg. equals 132 pounds. I have lost close to 10 pounds in the past month. From the bags, the ridiculous amount of walking, little consumption of food and lots of beer. Im not being completely kind or healthy to my body, however it has not failed me. The pain in my middle finger hasnt exactly left and my foot has the occassional remnant of pain.
...I dont need much to live. Friends, little food, beer and a couple changes of clothes. The occassional shower or washing.
To Travel and experience places and people far from your home is the greatest and most unique thing separating humans from other species. The ability to go anywhere at any time is such a gift of this life. The friendships made and immeasurable experiences gained teaching the secrets in the depths of ones soul and mind in overcoming fears and obstacles of the psyche. There is no reason to fear humans. Awareness and attentiveness provide a sense unlike the others. To pick up the negativity and attract positive energy is one of the keys to a fully lived life.
Upon arrival into berlin, it was evident I would fit into this thriving young counter culture, after dropping off my bags at my home for the next 5 days, I set off to meet my host. A walk through a completely dark Mauer park would normally warn me of potentially dangerous possibilities in the crime filled big cities of America, but in Berlin is full of children riding bikes, young people laughing and playing over beers and joints, a group playing boche ball in the pocket of moonlight as I continued on the 15 minute walk to the tunnel providing music and drunken dancing as people gathered all night in the closed off street to celebrate the anniversary of east and west berlin becoming one.
JCN
Today, I explored those mountains. After a delicious lunch of homemade olive cake (green olives, green peppers, tomato paste, spelt and sunflower seeds), I went on an epic 4 or 5 hour hike, barely making it back for dinner before the sky went dark. I climbed and climbed until I made it to the top, passing through a dense forest of fallen leaves providing my path amongst the array of autumn colors with towering trees all around. No other animal or person in sight until every so ofter, I would hear the bells of cows waiting in a field up ahead. I eventually made it to my destination, which priska had provided clues and a map to find. Creaux de Glace (hole of ice). I had forgotten that I was in search of a cave and only rememberd the ice part. This place was a beautiful sight that upon arriving at, I just stood in awe of. A huge hole below me that you could climb down into, so I climbed. Regretting not bringing my hiking shoes on the trip, I took hold of the chain and went down the steep rocky and muddy entrance to the dark dark cave. With my headlamp on, I made it to the bottom to find 2 large masses of ice within. A place where ice exists every day of every year. I took some time to take it in in the cool air and knew I had to head back before the darkness set in. Climbing up was a bit tricky but felt great to be climbing! Something not many humans will see, but worth every effort to get to.
10/3
New City. Berlin. New Country. Germany. New people, interactions and friendships.
10/5
3 days of nonstop drinking. Popping in and out of bars, cafes and mostly kiosks, or what I know as convenience stores, open 24 hours selling large bottles of beer for cheap, in a city where you can walk and drink wherever you please. Beer, absinthe, and wine makes for a late start to any day in Berlin, where the life doesnt wake til the sun goes down over the grey, dreary buildings and streets of alternative people, hippies, yuppies, gutter punks, hipsters, poets and arists of all types.
Weighed myself today, 60 kg. equals 132 pounds. I have lost close to 10 pounds in the past month. From the bags, the ridiculous amount of walking, little consumption of food and lots of beer. Im not being completely kind or healthy to my body, however it has not failed me. The pain in my middle finger hasnt exactly left and my foot has the occassional remnant of pain.
...I dont need much to live. Friends, little food, beer and a couple changes of clothes. The occassional shower or washing.
To Travel and experience places and people far from your home is the greatest and most unique thing separating humans from other species. The ability to go anywhere at any time is such a gift of this life. The friendships made and immeasurable experiences gained teaching the secrets in the depths of ones soul and mind in overcoming fears and obstacles of the psyche. There is no reason to fear humans. Awareness and attentiveness provide a sense unlike the others. To pick up the negativity and attract positive energy is one of the keys to a fully lived life.
Upon arrival into berlin, it was evident I would fit into this thriving young counter culture, after dropping off my bags at my home for the next 5 days, I set off to meet my host. A walk through a completely dark Mauer park would normally warn me of potentially dangerous possibilities in the crime filled big cities of America, but in Berlin is full of children riding bikes, young people laughing and playing over beers and joints, a group playing boche ball in the pocket of moonlight as I continued on the 15 minute walk to the tunnel providing music and drunken dancing as people gathered all night in the closed off street to celebrate the anniversary of east and west berlin becoming one.
JCN
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