Everything Is Falling Into Place

Busy weekend, office-wise. We have some big projects in the works involving all the troops. I spent Saturday and Sunday afternoon at CINCO chuggin' away on our duties.

My new apartment is locked down. I move in this weekend, starting on Friday. It's about 650 sq ft, hardwood floors, big kitchen, cool closets, close to laundry across the hall and in a mellow neighborhood. I'm excited to make it mine and get all of my belongings in one safe place again. I'm tired of this "all my stuff in a storage space" shit. Too fragmented. I need to be with my books and discs and stuff. Man, I can't wait to get back to my bed!

So I'll be moving in later on this week.

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Saw Jamie Donatuto last night. She was down from Washington for the weekend for a wedding. We ran around town, had some chow, went to Powell's bookstore, etc. It was good to see her. We caught up on all the Bend folk updates. She is an "Environmental Specialist" working for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community on the Olympic Peninsula outside of Seattle. It is so beautiful up there. She's doing well for herself, readying herself for more global adventures. She's been all over hell.

I'm gonna go up to Seattle in late September for a weekend to see Arlie, do a tour of Sub Pop and spend a rustic night at Jamie's compound out in the sticks.

No running water and a "compost pile" to do yer dirty work on. Interesting.

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There is talk of my dad coming out to see me this fall. Man, we'll kick this town's ass. I'd love to get him out here for a week. Oregon needs him.

Rod Snell is laying low, getting the new ranch up to speed in Oregon City. I can't wait to see his new joint. He's good people. A brother.

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Factory Floor late summer readin' list:

1. Trailer Travel: A Visual History of Mobile America by Philip Noyes
2. Reinventing the Wheel by Jessica Helfand
3. Moby Dick by Herman Melville
4. Stupid White Men by Jessica Helfand
5. The Coen Brothers by Ronald Bergan
6. Are You Ready For the Country? by Peter Doggett

Good weather, etc.

Glory. It is a beautiful day. Soft clouds, 65-70 degrees. Kirk gave it a, "Man, kind of feels like fall out here!" as he mosied out to chat with us. We enjoyed the cool afternoon, shootin' the shit outside the office.

10 days to go in August. I love the fall and can't wait to savor those cool, brisk days.

Watched "Caligula" last night. Little bit shocked, little bit bored, little bit interested.

I have an application being processed for a little joint up on Hawthorne. Good little place. Hardwood floors, clean, mellow neighborhood, close to work. I'm excited to make it mine for the winter.

Sonic Youth is coming next week. They are doing a little freebie in-store performance up in NW Portland. I'm gonna go check that out, just to get a good look at them. I like the new album. Good stuff.

Been listening to a lot Bob Dylan lately. It is strangely comforting.

Oh yeah, I've been teaching myself to type also. This is a big step for me. I can "hunt and peck" like the best of 'em, but feel shame in my backwoods methods. I envy my colleagues who can type all proper and professional. Slow and steady. My goal is to be able to hit a good 40 words or so.

Real Hot

Yesterday was one big hairdryer.

It was hot and mean, well over a hundred degrees. The wind was whippin' and it beat you down real bad. My apartment was a oven. I basted myself with butter. 3 cold showers and I was still hot. My turkey burgers cooked themselves.

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The Once-A-Month series card have all been sent out. If I missed anyone, please let me know with an e-male to: customerservice@draplindustries.com, and we'll get a kit out to you lickety split.

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Jay Farrar has a new EP out. "Thirdshiftgrottoslack." Good stuff.

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I have been checking out apartment prospects in the spare time. A couple outings involving some fleabit properties has set me back a bit and darkened the spirits. Apartment shopping has been leaving me incredibly sad. The temporary nature of it all, the impersonality, all of it just makes me sad. I saw this one studio, no more than 200 square feet, and man, it was so dismal. Dirty, reeking of cat piss and way too small. Good living. I'll find something. Floyd said to look in the paper, to ignore the countless "for rent" signs. The real finds will be buried in the classifieds. I'll take heed and spend 50 cents on a paper. We'll see how things shape up. I have two weeks.

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Rod Snell moved to town. He bought a place in Oregon City. Congratulations and welcome. I'm so excited to have him in the same vicinity. We will make a good team, as we kick this town's ass.

Ditch Living

Yeah, the updates have been infrequent. Just been in bit a of a ditch lately with everything. Don't get me wrong, work is so good and I'm lovin' the city, but, things have just bit a bit gray. Friends have been dropping in, titles like Tim Zimmerman and John Cavan, Ben and Matt Cooley, etc. It's good to be able to run with colleagues. Thanks guys. This last bunch of weeks since the "demise" of that goddamn girl situation have been strangely challenging. Things just seem peculiar. Parts of me wish she was around, and other parts are glad she is the hell out of here. It's a tug-a-war, and an ugly one at that. How does one just sort of "get back to regular 'ol living" after such a crummy deal? It's fucked. Sorry about the sappy stuff, and hell, I'm trying to be bulletproof, but fear some hot

The weather has been amazing. Nice, cool days with chilly nights. August? I thought this was supposed to be the hot months in the Lower 48? I'm loving that part of Portland: agreeable weather. The nights are cool enough, around 50 degrees! Good sleepin' weather. Goo said that "August and September are the best months in Portland. Sounds good.

I have been putting calls in around town shopping for an apartment. I need a place locked down by the 1st of September. We'll see how the cards play out. There are so many "for rent" signs out there around these neighborhoods. It shouldn't be a problem finding a joint.