Seen in D.C.

I live in a world of Fantasy
So keep your reality away from me
I see what I want to see
And that is Okay by me

Seen on the back of a moving style van on
Florida Avenue this morning.
WOW talk about enlightening the Sheeples,
even if they don't understand what it means.

Seen anything interesting of late?

Of Horses, Steeples and Ferry's

Another year now comes with the coming of the International Gold Cup Steeplechase at the Plains in Loudon County, VA. Along with the spring cousin, the Virginia Gold Cup, these are great day of fun at the horse races with the gang. Our amazing coordinator Jeff once again needs a big congratulatory applause for this the 4th year. Bookie duties were handed back to Alexandra (since last time she was missing). Big difference though was that this year was the first time I lost money on betting on the horses (albeit only $4). Of note though was one of my friends and his comments on women chewing gum. He calls it "bovine", unless of course its some trashy girl...

So lots of fun was had by all, otherwise I leave you all to some helpful advice from Jon on the horses, and the more eloquent AB.

Next day was another early one as Carmel, Rob, Minah & I headed off to Harpers Ferry for a day of hiking, leaf peeping, and some historical stuff. Got to hike the Maryland Heights trail taking the road less traveled up to the Old Stone Fort. With our warm weather the leaf changes have been disappointing until this trip - finally fall weather is upon us, and this was a great weekend to usher it in.



Notes about Harpers Ferry:

• Don't go expecting a real town - it feels allot like Colonial Williamsburg in many ways, lots of fun to still be had though
• Don't miss the Ice Cream shop in town
• Check out the Cemetery at the highest point in town.
• Explore lock 33 on the C&O Canal. There is nothing that stops you walking on the canal itself
• Jefferson Rock Is climbable - just don't let the park rangers catch you.
• It would suck to be a Civil war soldier - apparently all they did was build rock walls
• Apparently almost any panoramic picture of Harpers Ferry will include that church steeple, theres no way getting around it.
  

Topping off a graet weekend is having my team win two games straight in a row - both Sat & Sun nights. No not the poor Dolphins who can't win this year at all, but the Red Sox. I believe it happens to be what we were wearing - lucky Pirate gear and lucky Dog - Reagan!!!!












With fellow Red Sox fan Mary, and her dog Reagan doing Blue Steel thus intimidating the Indians into loosing

The Massing of the Sheeples... or not.

New Term for the following year: Sheeples.

Origin: mash up of Sheep and people

Definition: The masses of people who just follow because they are too engrossed in thier own lives and have no time to care (about our liberties, our country, etc.)

Ok so were all tired of listening about the presidential canidates, and we all have our favorites .... or not at all.

My Opinion - The system is broke - we have to major power brokers putting up 2 sets of opinions and nothing else. The sheep see two paths, and fail to see the other option - blazing a new path. I mean even when herding sheep there are certain some that decide to go astray.

So the powers that control the two ideologies - much like the sheperds or cowboys, go off and round up these unique thinkers and pen them up, thus ensuring we dont develop new ideas. And this happens in both parties.

I'm sick of it - sick of it all. Really I do believe the Brits are on to something - elections are called and you have 60 days to campaign... simple. We need to stop sending our canidates out looking for money - or just have every canidate run for Both parties primaries, like ... Stephen Colbert!

Yes as many of you know he announced his (mock) Canidacy. Thats awesome - now if he were really electable that would be even better! but how brilliant is the idea of no parties and just general primaries. Even better is the idea of no fundraising, canidates all get the same amount of money. Running a campaign is no longer a business (as it is now), everyone has an even platform to present thier views. Yeah it will never work out...

But who knows. As Ray says - we need to reform the Whig Party. So far there are 2 of us, who else is in??

Responses to Notes....

So Jon asked the question: “what songs would be good to listen to when getting over someone” SO I came up with my CD’s worth of songs.

Some of the songs don’t always truly apply to all situations/girls, but what the hey. Here's a list in no particular order:

Corazon Espinado Santana with Mana
Oh, broken/pierced heart – whatever you want to call it….

Esa mujer me esta matando
Por mas que trato de olvidarla
Me a espinado el Corazon



Translated (loosely):
That woman is killing me
But no matter how hard (she) treats (me) I cant forget her
She has pierced my heart

Let Your Troubles Roll By Carbon Leaf
Also on Jon’s list but mine for the first stanza – describes a forlorn heart readily.

Love endures, it clings away
When asked to leave, it begs to stay
Like the perfect song, at imperfect times
It's the way the chords struck with the rhymes
So let your troubles roll by...

Goin Nowhere Chris Isaak
Truly a “Getting over her” song!

Like the stance, like the sky, likes the way you shake it.
You’re the kind of a girl that looks better naked.
You’re the kind of a girl I would say is goin' nowhere.
You’re goin' nowhere.

Precious pain Melissa Etheridge
A way of taking that hurt, how do we deal with it.

Empty and cold but it keeps me alive
I gave it my soul so that I could survive
Keeping me safe in these chains
Precious pain

Royal Station 4/16 Melissa Etheridge
Melissa does it consistently in her early career songs –
This one makes one think of how we must forge ahead .

I ain't got nothing to soothe my aching soul
Except this screeching and screaming iron
To tell me where I ought to go

Breakdown Jack Johnson
A simple song – when you just need to let go.

I need this here
old train to breakdown
oh please just
let me please breakdown




Breaking up Rilo Kiley
Ohhh it feels good to be free – well until we need that urge otherwise
Very – almost disco-ey?? Not quite but very upbeat

am i breaking up?
is there trouble on the line?
did your heart break enough?
did it break enough this time?

ooh it feels good to be free..........

– not Breakin up – but still good! - Paints Peeling



Start a New Life Let’s French
Title says it all

1234 Feist (no thanks to that new Ipod commercial)
How dare does one reverse their feelings? Surprising lyrics found in another very upbeat song

you're changing your heart.
oh, oh, oh, you know who you are.
sweetheart, bitter heart,
now i can't tell you apart.



Anemone Brian Jonestown Massacre (BJM)
BJM a psychedelic 60’s retro – Stones/Byrds/Dylan inspired west coast band puts out some amazing songs many based on rejection, love, (including unrequited) - my choices were hard to peg, so I narrowed it down to two: this one because by the end of a relationship “dragging me down” is usually the feeling - remind yourself youre better of “up”, not down

i only play it for-real
you should be picking me up
instead you're dragging me down
flying over my head
you're landing all over town

F*cker Brian Jonestown Massacre
My heart is mine – you have no reason to mess with it!

i've been sitting in my room so long
i think about the ways you've done me wrong again
f*cking b*tch she tried to break my heart
the way she loves me i just fall apart


Stupid Girl Garbage
Yep the girl is dumb if she don’t like/want me ! LOL!

You stupid girl
All you had you wasted



Float On Modest Mouse
Jon is right on this I just didn’t realize why…




Artists of Honorable Mention

More songs by Melissa Etheridge, BJM, Carbon Leaf, Rilo Kiley, & Chris Isaak’s Blue album and missing the cut were songs by Dido, U2, Sublime, & The Cars.
I wanted to add something from the Decemberists (My current fave band) but it doesn’t quite fit this category.


Continue the thoughts – and responses ( Don’t forget to put it on Jon’s comments – he is the master of this after all.)

Since there are none of the standard pics here, I leave you with my rejected entry (due to length) in last years Screen on J&D G You tube video festival – warning – NSFW but only due to a few cuss words…… How To Take Revenge on Your Cheating Girlfriend :

glumbert - How to take revenge on your cheating girlfriend

Note to Jon:
"But actually it makes things clear, you see, 'cause now I know exactly what I have to do"

Is Feng Shui for Rich People?

Well I finally got a decent portion of the new place somewhat organized and REALLY cleaned, and for those of you who know - that is one heck of a feat with my roomie. I mean it looks as good as it has in years. Beyond this point it will take putting half his stuff in a POD and organizing the multitude of CD's he has. Well all I can say is one step at a time - take a weekend here or there when he heads off to NYC, and I can adjust and throw out a little more junk each time!

Which brings me to the Feng Shui part. For the last year and a half - maybe two - I have owned the above book "Feng Shui for Everyday Living". And after looking at it various times thinking that it cant hurt(though never quite buying into it all) - I figure - who, in everyday life, has the money, time or space to do all this. I want a more clutter free home - but who has the space to hide all the stuff one hangs on to. Who has the ability to paint their apartment at whim whatever color they choose - or plop down money to get furniture like they show in the books and all those web sites. We all work for a living and have a dozen other more pressing demands for our money. Who can really afford Feng Shui??

Me I'll take my small victory in a clean house and a little more free walking space where I can get it (My small victory is pictured below).

Addendum: Two days later.... the place is a disaster again: Bags of produce, bottles of Bacardi & Tanqueray, clothes and the kitchen **Sigh**. I have a strong feeling that this is a Felix & Oscar situation.

What I Did This Summer

A.K.A. DO I Know What I Did This Summer......


Much like in grade school when your teacher would make you do a show & tell of your summertime antics, its time to reflect back on the season. Admittedly I didnt go anywhere MEGA interesting like Africa or as remote as Minneapolis, become a hardcore mountain-biking athlete, or have a major life event this summer, but events over the last few months have definately had (I think) profound effects on me that I am still not so sure about myself.

Yes I know many of you are thinking that summer was over a while ago, but remember my perspective growing up in South Florida where it doesnt get cool until maybe November. So in the ever muddling of my life B.D.C. and A.D.C. (before and after moving to D.C.), I attempt to find a middle ground. And thus it has been this summer - where is MY middle ground?

A month ago I started thinking of this with an unfinished post that went like this:

"A Tough Pill To Swallow

Its been a hard week the one after my birthday. I guess I wrangle with a few things on this page everytime I open it. Mainly how much of my personal life is too much for this very (potentially) public blog. I mean its not like I have drunken nights full of debauchery and I am not writing about college style exploits here."

Why I never finished that - well I am not sure if I am ready to share that, but I was feeling in a very low place, and feeling very confused about many things (even possibly a little betrayed), plus I am positive I made some bad choices also. But it did get me on the track to thinking - even if the thoughts have barely left the train station yet.

But I have been trying to think what defines the middle ground - my standards - someone else's?

Examples:


- Most people my age are generally married - and getting on with that stage of thier lives. Am I ready for that? Who knows (I thought I was 2 yrs ago). So its either single, coupled or married

- How does your job define your middle ground? satifaction vs compensation...

- Friends and Family time....

- Bieng a giver and bieng a taker: This is a tough one - really. I have always been a giver, constantly putting other peoples needs over my own. But I look back and I consider how much is too much (and I am not just talking about monetary/physical things). In many ways I have given of myself, let others take credit, and (yes as strangely as it seems) stood in the background, just about always refusing help from others.

But something has changed - I'm not sure I like the difference it has manifested - I feel dirty when I take (I mean I have never asked for help in moving, yet always help everyone else). I "think" I try to balance it now, but then guilt sets in, especially with my friends and family.

So how much is too much? I dont know - it's just one of the cars on that train thats just leaving the station. One thing that I know... one area that I still give, give, give - is the romance department - but thats a total failure. Seems that I overinvest in those I am interested in, then of course Viola- my heart hurts to no avail. Gosh am I stupid for letting these things happen.

Someone please give me a freaking clue cause I have none.....

Which brings me to all these pictures - and something touched upon before on an earlier post. Once again hounding me is the same general thoughts - its just this time it has catchy initials: WDYDWYD and is a two edged sword into my soul. Why Do You Do What You Do? is a pretty simple concept, in describing yourself in simple terms. Then I see this second picture.... same initials, and cuts into the deep of it.

Coupled with the pictures here as just a sample, it is a powerful question in its simplicity. I have been looking at them and pondering since I saw them from my variuos friends who went to Burning Man. It's impact strengthens that questioning I have been doing lately. But for now - its a different post .....


To be Continued.........