T-Minus One Day

Well, one day left till Burning Man and just lost the post I was working on so I’ll make this short. I’ve been experiencing a mix of excitement and anxiety in anticipation of a week of who-knows-what out there in the Nevada desert. Lots of preparation for dust, wind, camping, fun and comfort. A full SUV that will be my home for 7 days. I’ll have you all in my thoughts and look forward to sharing pictures and stories upon my return.

To share something quickly, I got a new haircut. Please see below for detail:

Junctions

There was something about this image that struck me. I was about to go into the Santa Monica DMV to take care of some business and saw this girl taking a bite into a donut. So there it is.

Two weeks into my Los Angeles adventure here, and having scattered thoughts. Society has provided me with so much conditioning to NOT be OK with doing anything but focusing on work in the traditional sense. Today I woke up and did some shopping for Burning man in downtown L.A. Explored the fashion district and wholesale toy district. I enjoy being able to enjoy a city that I’ve lived in on and off my whole life but now have a different type of freedom to explore. In any case, the trick for me at the moment is to internalize a feeling of being ‘ok’ with what I’m doing. I want to set off to Latin America knowing that a) it is the right thing to be doing and b) I will be involved with passion in new and exciting things when I return.

This time now is for preparing for preparing for the trips I am setting out on guilt free, and then for enjoying them, and THEN for being present in my life when I return. I think part of the problem is that extended time in L.A. provides me with a certain stagnation, even though there is so much going on. I went to the Sunset Junction last weekend, sort of a hipster-fest in Silverlake. Fun, saw the Buzzocks for a second, met up with D from Santa Cruz. I’ll post a few pics form that day below:

And also this picture, which to me speaks volumes about being back in my hometown, around familiar architecture, culture and religion. And I loved the shot:

Music for Lovers Only

I wanted to post a quick link to a mix put together by my friend “Just” Justin and myself last year. We called it ‘Music for Lovers Only’, a title I’m sure most of you remember from a Jackie Gleason record. This is better, I promise.

Its mostly Jazz and classic Downtempo with a few new beats in there as well. Click below to hear it:

click

And speaking of loving music, I just found an incredible blog called “Awesome Tapes from Africa.” It consists mostly of recordings of tapes that the author bought in Africa and has recorded & posted. I’m listening to ‘Yolele’ from the 8/12/07 post right now and its really incredible. A little bit dark with strings and vibes and a sublime vocal over it.

Still adjusting to L.A. here, trying to explore as much as possible. Slowly getting addicted to the trend that is Pinkberry. Who ever thought of sour frozen yogurt with lychees, Oreos and Mochi balls before?! Its great. I’ve got my complaints too but overall things are nice, with more developments to come.

Playground

In some ways Los Angeles is a giant playground. Especially coming from a place as small as Santa Cruz. I’m feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of culture and activity taking place at the moment. Since I’ve been back I’ve seen an incredible free show consisting of a performance by the Universal Consciousness Orchestra with their tribute to the incredible Alice Coltrane, and followed by a set by Coltrane’s nephew Flying Lotus. I’ve been to Funky Sole, seen Daedalus perform for free at an art opening, found a great yoga studio, and on an on. Beyond all of that I’ve been truly on vacation, with only the greater questions to ask of life and not much of the day-to-day anxieties that are often typical my life. And yet, beyond all of this, beyond the fact that I’m basically quite happy and relaxed at the moment, I feel that Los Angeles is not for me. Owing to the prevalent aesthetic concern and modes of socialization, the traffic, the cost of living. I’m amazed at the ways that I am both attracted to and repelled by aspects of life that make up this great metropolis. I think now that I will spend two months here, peppered by Burning Man and some backpacking, and then start to travel. And then, who knows, maybe I will choose to return here but that decision remains to be made.

Below is a picture from the Universal Consciousness Orchestra show:

City of Angels

Today was the move day. I drove a 15ft. Budget truck down to Los Angeles and have officially moved back home. Its quite a strange feeling really, to move home after 5 years away. Time spent in such a different type of city, in such a more committed way. I all of a sudden find myself without so many of the routines and spaces that I’ve been used to. The room, the house, the walk downtown, room mates my age. Its like I need to psyche myself out and absorb the fact that things are actually different, and will continue to grow more so. This move was really quite easy, very smooth. Some might suggest that this indicates a move that as meant to be. I buy it.

I was in San Francisco last weekend for D’s 30th birthday. Great weekend, lots of people to visit. I went to a photography show at Camerworks SF gallery, a great Non-profit gallery in Mission in SOMA. I was particularly struck by the work of Greg Halpern, who was showing his ‘I’m Afraid I Love You’ series of photographs of Buffalo, NY. The pictures have a strong Egglestonian quality, suggesting a wealth of humanity through their mundane subjects and muted colors. None of the work from the show was on his site, but I included the picture above. Seems fitting for the move I made today.

Think on These Things

In a way this is the first day of a new life situation. I spent the last night last night in the room that has been mine for the last two years. I’m sitting now in my backyard, listening to Roots Manuva waiting to go to the greater Bay Area for the weekend. There are many ways to look at the time coming in my life. In one sense, it is just a city move & a decision to travel. In another though, this is the first time in my life I’ve allowed myself space to be without plans and see what develops. Shall I be cheesy and call it a right of passage? Sure, why not. I can’t say it feels easy to be on the verge of 26 and not have a ‘life plan’ but its the only sensible option, for today anyways. The change feels important. I’ve seen those around me gain varying amounts from traveling. Its certainly an experience that will give from what it is given. It’s funny to read people’s experiences at places like realtravel.com and travelblog.org and see people interacting so little with the cultures around them; people often seem oblivious. But I guess I will have more to say on these things when I leave, which I hope to be in October after a few months in L.A. and a week at Burning Man.