June Gloom/LA Casting Call

I went to L.A. for the first time and forgot my camera. Doh! I brought plenty of other stuff - mainly shorts and tank tops and summery things for sunny California. Turns out I didn't need those at all as Debie and I arrived in the midst of "June Gloom."

This concept was unfamiliar to me. When we got off the plane it was cold and grey and not at all as what I imagined when I booked the plane ticket for a West Coast getaway. "Oh, June Gloom," at least 5 people remarked to us in the first thirty minute. As if that explained everything.

June Gloom, duhhhh. June Gloom!

What is this June Gloom? Is that why my plane ticket was so cheap? I should've known!

Anyhow, I had to rely on the iPhone for impromptu photos, like these snapshots that I took from the rental car window as we drove down the street.

Here is a line of dozens of people wearing costumes of every different cliche. I see a Mexican poncho, a clown, a guy with one of those Chinese hats on, but no Bumblebee Man. Who else can you spot?

Yeah Yeah Yeahs in Coloring Book Form

Sorry for the radio silence, I moved last week and we don't have internet yet. I'm also moving offices at work, which is strange as I've had to pack up my entire life - both office and apartment - over the past couple weeks.

There's a lot of blog post ideas I've been delinquent on sharing, and I'll get to them, but let's start my posting my coloring piece de resistance, from the very fun Indie Rock Coloring Book, gifted to me by my friends Lauren, Emily and Andy:

How professional is that? This one is also nice:

Moving Day


I'm moving apartments this weekend. Gotta get Percy the Llama packed up on and on the road (with bubblewrap for safekeeping).

Isn't funny that when you move, you think somehow everything will be better in this new space. An empty apartment equals a clean slate. A chance to forget the past and do things right from now on.

"I won't hoard so much junk," you think as you survey blank rooms. "I'm going to cook more, healthy food and gourmet stuff. I'll probably work out every day. Yes, I won't be late for the bus anymore, and maybe I'll muster up the energy to wear makeup to work more than one day a week."

I know this sentiment defies logic in a way that is uniquely human, but I'm hoping it will be true. It will at least be different, and for someone who isn't great with change, different might already be a step in the right direction.

Tunes Tuesday: "Hawaiian Air," Friendly Fires

It's officially summer, so here is a summer song. Light as air, Hawaiian air.

Plus it has ace lyrics like "Seeing the mountains through a fog/ Watching a film with a talking dog," and a beat that might be as catchy as the band's breakthrough single "Paris."

P.S. - My dad told us he was thinking of spending a month in Hawaii in October and that we were welcome to join. This is huge, as we've only been on one family vacation to date that didn't involve visiting relatives. But my brother immediately dismissed the free Hawaiian vacation, saying it would be too hard to work out his schedule. Don't screw this up for me, Danny!

P.P.S - Joe asked what I was listening to as I was playing this album. "Friendly Fires," I said. "How do you come up with this stuff?" he said. I said, "You don't know Friendly Fires? They are almost mainstream."

"Are they one hit away from you thinking they sold out?" he said.