The Wulf

 I went to see a concert at a really interesting space for experimental music called the Wulf a little while back.  My friend Bryan and his girlfriend Natacha played a concert there.

 The flute hooked up to the laptop...

The trio...

I 

I loved this sign, for a zine but it seemed emblematic of the show space in general.

Bedtime ritual

Here is our ritual:

We eat dinner

They sit on potty (I run bath water)

They take a bath

I put their bunny towels on them

I sit on floor

They sit in my lap one at a time for hugs

We put on their diapers and pajamas (one at a time)

We brush their teeth

I comb their hair

They pick out a story (one each)

We snuggle and read stories on my bed

They get a drink of water

We decide who I will sing to first (I sing to one first and snuggle the other first)

They get an animal (I turn on star turtle)

They get in bed

I put their blankets on them

I sing to one first

Then sing to the other

I turn off the turtle

I climb in bed and snuggle the one I sang to second

I give her tickle rubs on her back and her belly

I say “you are such a beautiful person”

I say “I love you more than all the _______ (sea creatures, stars, apples, etc.)”

She says “I love you more than all the _______ (lions, jellyfish, macaroni, etc.)”

I give her a hug and a kiss and a snuggle

I climb out of bed

I climb in bed with the other kid I haven’t snuggled yet

I give her tickle rubs on her back and on her belly

I say “you are such a beautiful person”

I say “I love you more than all the _______ (planets, oceans, noodles, etc.)”

She says “I love you more than all the _______ (strawberries, jellyfish, grass, etc.)”

I give her a hug and a kiss and a snuggle

I climb out of bed

I leave the room

Plastic Bag as Humble Present

That is the name of a book by Joshua Blackwell, an artist who makes these amazing pieces by stitching onto plastic bags.  I read about him on Simone LeBlanc's website.  I love the way he takes something really flimsy, disposable, and generally trashy (in some parts of the world they joke that plastic shopping bags are the "national bird") and turns it into a work of art.

city s'mores

 

 

Full disclosure:  I got this idea from Tom, who did it first.  It is such a damn good idea though, I couldn't resist.  We went to The Camp, which is a little outdoor mall in Costa Mesa, and roasted marshmallows over the decorative fire.  Our friends Vanessa and Abigail joined us, and we all had great fun.  I started the evening pretty stressed out, and somehow the fake fire, fake coals, and piped-in nature sounds had this really soothing effect and I chilled right out.  Also, everybody who passed by seemed utterly delighted by the whole thing.

Badass inspiration

 This is a photograph of Jane Fonda taken by Dennis Hopper

Mason Park tunnel

In Mason Park there are drain tunnels and they are big enough to walk up and explore. The whole thing is spooky, but there is something good about the simplicity of walking down a long tunnel. 

When it is all dark, nothing looks prettier than a little bit of light filtering down from a manhole cover.  One reassuring thing is that after you walk for a while, you start to come across traces left by other people. Goofy drawings and really crappy graffiti prevail.                   

 

 

piles of stones in Zion

I visited Zion National Park on a road trip with Tom a few years ago.  It is one of the most stunning places I have ever been in my life, and I still think about it all the time.  Before I went there I thought the name was kind of corny, but when I was there I understood- there is something sacred about that place.

We found this place along a trail.  The view was breathtaking, and people had left hundreds of little piles of rocks.  Tom had lived in Japan, and knew this was a common thing to do there.  I can't figure out the name for it (if there is one) but it comes from the Shinto religion.  The best description I found of this ritual (in my 5 minutes of internet research) is: "small stones will be piled up to indicate a place where the sacred space touches on everyday space." 

I feel like I heard somewhere that spirits are supposed to live in the little piles, but that sounds too much like a scene from a Hiyao Miyazaki cartoon movie- it is too adorable to be true, so I think I made it up.

The thing I love about it is how all the different people who visit this place on their own collectively express a sentiment of wonder and awe- the stones say "take a look, that is goddamn BEAUTIFUL" and making a new pile says "hell yes it is!"  I would like it if more people did this, to express appreciation and awe of little places they see around.  It would remind everyone to stop and check out the neat shit all around us, and remind us that all the other people are also just looking for something beautiful.