if you're wondering.

I realized this morning that there is this 30 minutes before I actually begin working that I'm supposed to be here for - 30 minutes that I can do what I want with before I start doing what they pay me for, that I think I'll start using for this.

So I saw Weezer last night, in pouring rain. Rivers was playing at being an awkward rock god, and more than once he had to take off his glasses and wipe them on the white nike track suit he was wearing. Max came with me, but he was up in the Verizon lounge, staying dry, watching it on the screens. We didn't pay for the tickets.

And, continuing the theme of not paying for tickets, on Saturday night I saw Soko at the independent. She was adorable, and I met her beforehand and she put me on her guest list - and then I hung out with her for the rest of the evening, talking about nothing, enjoying/commenting on the music playing.

It was a wonderful weekend. I also ate a sandwich with avocado and fried mozarella sticks, among other things. It was delicious.

That's leisure time. For sure.

drowned her in a bathtub.

Today's new thing was an attempt at musical zen.

I took a walk and listened to an album. I used to do this, so it's not exactly NEW, but I forgot how much I enjoyed it, and the album was new... so I'm counting it new. All you haters (there aren't any, but for some reason, I always talk to them) can say it's new or not. But I think it's new. That's the important thing.

The houses near me are startling. There were five treehouses, a red brick castle that overlooks all of Santa Cruz, homemade swings, well kept gardens, unkempt gardens, art deco gates, urban art... it was a beautiful walk. Set to absolutely fantastic music: cascading organ, build 'em up guitars, spanish flamenco picking, three singers, and a story worthy of... well. Folk mysticism, I guess. I would love to hear the whole thing just with a couple guitars and an organ, in front of a campfire, with Colin Meloy and crew telling the story with shadow puppets and their normal theatrics.

I loved it and plan on doing this more often. A good walk. Good music. Santa Cruz is a gorgeous place. I always forget that.

I want to go to heaven for the weather.

So Saturday was another trip to do an open mic night with Anthony, this time in San Francisco. We both bombed, but I don't think we should have - Farley's had an awful atmosphere, the comics were all bad people who used as many sound effects as they did punch lines, and the guys in front frowned the whole time.

Tough room.

But then Regina and Andre came to the rescue and took us to Andre's work/Soapstone factory, and we played on this giant crane, swinging about the soapstone warehouse. Seriously. And then they did crazy karaoke moves to Uninvited by Alanis Morisette and got kicked out of the karaoke bar for dropping the microphone.

Regina is a whirlwind of good time.

So three new things: Karaoke kick out, Stand up in San Francisco, and crane play. Heavy duty machinery equals heavy duty fun.

where do you go to, my lovely?

Okay so today's new thing was a continuation of a week ago's new thing, which was starting to build that cigar box today.

Today's new thing was finishing and playing that cigar box guitar.

It sounds AWFUL.

But there it stands, in all of its glory! We need to tune it, probably. And re-situate the nails, I think. There are probably lots of things we need to do to it, but it's built.

When we first turned it on, the screech woke up Max. It sounds kind of like aliens descending on earth and firing rayguns.

Awful, awful noise. Kind of disappointing.

Actually, lots of disappointing.

For you, oooh.

The Cigar Box Guitar construction has commenced!

It looks like it's going to be the most incredible thing you have ever seen. Well, no. But I can't wait.

We couldn't finish it because I wanted to spray paint its name on it: Betsy Mae.

At some point, I will be able to say the phrase, "I'm a-gonna go strum the heckfire on the strings of ol' Betsy Mae!"

And I'm going to say it all the time.

Also: Happy Birthday Sara!

christmas came early for me.

every blog title is a lyric from a song, in case you didn't know.

today I called sick into work because I woke up and felt like my head was on fire.

It wasn't, by the way, but I definitely slept in and wrote and slept more and made chicken noodle soup and felt like I had done the right thing.

Today's new thing: I sat and memorized ukulele chords. The chords I knew already were the ones I looked up to write a song about kissing on a bus. I didn't even know what they were. So I looked at my chord chart and then looked away, and now I know A through G. I can play, slowly, a major scale!

Hurrah!

It was a small little thing but a thing nonetheless.

I love this rain. I walked in it under an umbrella for about three minutes and felt peaceful.

it backfired at the disco.

Saturday's New Thing:

I left love mix cd's all over the bus - sad love songs about love lost.

I just thought, you know... a sobering experience for those in a relationship, and a place to find solace for those who weren't.

I didn't leave any way to contact me, like I usually do with my letters. I just did it. I wonder if anyone will like them.

and the music, as loud as can be.

Today's new thing is a culmination of effort from yesterday into today. I recorded a song using all the instruments I own.

Those instruments are:
-The Kaossilator
-Omnichord
-Electric Fender Guitar
-Acoustic Samick Guitar
-Ukulele
-Melodica (birthday present from Erin)
-Ocarina
-Harmonica
-25-key Midi Keyboard
-My Voice

And I'll tell you what: The song is average. I had this idea in my head that it would be really wonderful, but because I am only average at music creation, and below average at almost every single one of those instruments (the ocarina and the harmonica were used only as strange things at the end) I guess I should not have had such lofty expectations.

But the thing is, I did it. I wrote a song, and played the instruments, and it's not bad. Not great, but not bad. I think my favorite part is that you, as a listener, are almost painfully aware of my inability to play these instruments, but I hope you all find some type of enjoyment anyway.

Without further ado: Take a listen.

Next time, I'll have someone else sing.